Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2005 Week 17 Recap

Game story

In Week 17 of the 2005 NFL season on 2006-01-01, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Chicago Bears, pulling away with a 34–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Johnson (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +7.35 total EPA.

On the individual side, J. Gage (Chicago Bears) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.48 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.9% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (13:35) 20-T.Jones left tackle to MIN 34 for 35 yards (30-M.Moore; 54-D.Thomas).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Gage · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +8.48 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.41 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Taylor · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +7.95 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.59 EPA/play
3. 3 B. Johnson · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +7.35 total EPA · 43 snaps · +0.17 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Blake · Chicago Bears · Passing · +5.93 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Bennett · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +4.81 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.69 EPA/play
6. 6 M. Moore · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +4.76 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Peterson · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +4.14 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.38 EPA/play
8. 8 B. Maynard · Chicago Bears · Passing · +3.54 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.54 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Minnesota Vikings — C. Fason (Q2 37:41)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Taylor (B. Johnson pass) (Q2 30:07)
• Minnesota Vikings — M. Moore (B. Johnson pass) (Q3 19:05)
• Chicago Bears — J. Gage (J. Blake pass) (Q4 7:11)
• Minnesota Vikings — M. Bennett (Q4 5:20)

Field goals

• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q1 50:18)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Edinger (Q2 44:57)
• Minnesota Vikings — P. Edinger (Q4 14:55)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 3–0. Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the MIN 4 (Q1 50:18) — (5:18) 9-R.Gould 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 17–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 36 (Q2 44:57) — (14:57) 1-P.Edinger 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the CHI 2 (Q2 37:41) — (7:41) 35-C.Fason right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 37:37) — 1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the CHI 17 (Q2 30:07) — (:07) (Shotgun) 14-B.Johnson pass to 89-T.Taylor for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 30:03) — 1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

The third quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–0. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the CHI 7 (Q3 19:05) — (4:05) 14-B.Johnson pass to 30-M.Moore for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q3 18:58) — 1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 10–7. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the CHI 9 (Q4 14:55) — (14:55) 1-P.Edinger 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the MIN 4 (Q4 7:11) — (7:11) 11-J.Blake pass to 12-J.Gage for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 7:08) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the CHI 61 (Q4 5:20) — (5:20) 23-M.Bennett right tackle for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q4 5:10) — 1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Chicago Bears (Q2 43:35) — (13:35) 20-T.Jones left tackle to MIN 34 for 35 yards (30-M.Moore; 54-D.Thomas). [WPA +13.9% · EPA +3.48]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 54:33) — (9:33) (Punt formation) 4-B.Maynard pass to 29-A.Peterson to MIN 27 for 18 yards (25-W.Hunter). [WPA +12.5% · EPA +3.54]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 44:57) — (14:57) 1-P.Edinger 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +2.31]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 38:12) — (8:12) 30-M.Moore up the middle pushed ob at CHI 2 for 33 yards (27-C.Thompson; 94-B.Ayanbadejo). [WPA +9.2% · EPA +3.09]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 31:56) — (1:56) 29-A.Peterson up the middle to MIN 31 for no gain (56-E.Henderson, 98-D.Scott). [WPA -8.3% · EPA -2.79]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 5:20) — (5:20) 23-M.Bennett right tackle for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.1% · EPA +5.75]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:07) — (:07) (Shotgun) 14-B.Johnson pass to 89-T.Taylor for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +3.8% · EPA +4.37]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 54:33) — (9:33) (Punt formation) 4-B.Maynard pass to 29-A.Peterson to MIN 27 for 18 yards (25-W.Hunter). [WPA +12.5% · EPA +3.54]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 43:35) — (13:35) 20-T.Jones left tackle to MIN 34 for 35 yards (30-M.Moore; 54-D.Thomas). [WPA +13.9% · EPA +3.48]

Quarterback report card

B.Johnson led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Johnson (Minnesota Vikings) · 43 dropbacks · 62.8% completion · +0.17 EPA/play · +7.35 total EPA
• K.Orton (Chicago Bears) · 17 dropbacks · 35.3% completion · -0.44 EPA/play · -7.45 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Minnesota Vikings held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.23 vs -0.06), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Chicago Bears: 10 drives, -4.91 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 10 drives, +18.25 total EPA, 6 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Gage (Chicago Bears) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q1 50:18 · MIN 4 · Score 3-0
   (5:18) 9-R.Gould 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
2. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 44:57 · CHI 36 · Score 3-3
   (14:57) 1-P.Edinger 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
3. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 37:41 · CHI 2 · Score 3-9
   (7:41) 35-C.Fason right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 37:37 · CHI 2 · Score 3-10
   1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
5. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 30:07 · CHI 17 · Score 3-16
   (:07) (Shotgun) 14-B.Johnson pass to 89-T.Taylor for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 30:03 · CHI 2 · Score 3-17
   1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
7. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 19:05 · CHI 7 · Score 3-23
   (4:05) 14-B.Johnson pass to 30-M.Moore for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 18:58 · CHI 2 · Score 3-24
   1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
9. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 14:55 · CHI 9 · Score 3-27
   (14:55) 1-P.Edinger 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.
10. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 7:11 · MIN 4 · Score 9-27
    (7:11) 11-J.Blake pass to 12-J.Gage for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 7:08 · MIN 2 · Score 10-27
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-4-B.Maynard.
12. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q4 5:20 · CHI 61 · Score 10-33
    (5:20) 23-M.Bennett right tackle for 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q4 5:10 · CHI 2 · Score 10-34
    1-P.Edinger extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-14-B.Johnson.