By Field Level Media
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Sam Darnold completed 24 of 40 passes for 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception as the Minnesota Vikings pulled away for a 30-12 win over the Chicago Bears on Monday night in Minneapolis.

Justin Jefferson had seven catches for 73 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (12-2), which won its seventh game in a row. Aaron Jones finished with 106 yards from scrimmage (86 rushing, 20 receiving) and a touchdown on the ground.

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Caleb Williams connected on 18 of 31 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown for Chicago (4-10). Keenan Allen scored the lone touchdown for the Bears, who lost their eighth consecutive game.

Minnesota opened the scoring on a 52-yard field goal by Will Reichard early in the first quarter.

On the next possession, the Bears committed a turnover when Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard sacked Williams from the blind side and popped the ball loose. Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman recovered the fumble and returned it 16 yards to the Chicago 39-yard line.

The Vikings’ offense quickly capitalized on the good field position. Jefferson made it 10-0 when he caught a play-action pass in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.

Reichard added a 31-yard field goal to put the Vikings on top 13-0 just before halftime.

Chicago got on the scoreboard midway through the third quarter. Cairo Santos connected on a 29-yard field goal to cut the Bears’ deficit to 10 points.

Minnesota answered with a touchdown on its next drive to go ahead 20-3. Jones bounced to the right side and tumbled across the goal line for a 1-yard score, capping a 12-play, 70-yard march. It was Jones’ fifth rushing touchdown of the season and the 50th of his career.

Santos made a 39-yard field goal to bring the Bears within 20-6 with 13 minutes to go.

Cam Akers powered across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown to increase the Vikings’ lead to 27-6 with 10:14 left. The rushing score was the first for Akers since he rejoined the Vikings in mid-October.

The Bears notched their only touchdown with 5:19 remaining, when Williams found Allen in the end zone from 16 yards out.

Reichard finished the scoring by booting a 46-yard field goal with 1:12 to go.

Falcons defeat Raiders to halt 4-game skid

Kirk Cousins threw his first touchdown pass since Nov. 3 and Bijan Robinson rushed for 125 yards on 22 carries to help the Atlanta Falcons notch a 15-9 victory over the host Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night.

KhaDarel Hodge got his hand on two Las Vegas punts and Drake London had a scoring reception as the Falcons (7-7) halted a four-game slide. Jessie Bates III made a game-ending interception for Atlanta, which is one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South.

Cousins completed 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards and one interception. He has been picked off nine times over the past five games.

Desmond Ridder, who was Atlanta’s starting quarterback last season, was 23-of-39 passing for 208 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Raiders (2-12) while starting in place of injured Aidan O’Connell (knee).

Ridder was the team’s leading rusher with 28 yards on five attempts as the club lost its 10th straight game.

The Raiders were trailing by 12 before Ridder drove them 68 yards on nine plays, hitting Ameer Abdullah on a 5-yard scoring pass to pull Las Vegas within 15-9 with 2:54 left. Atlanta’s Kevin King blocked the extra point.

The Raiders took over for a final chance with 1:50 remaining and reached the Atlanta 35-yard line before the second of two throws into the end zone was intercepted by Bates.

Cousins ended his touchdown pass drought with a 30-yard strike to London with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.

Las Vegas got on the board when Daniel Carlson booted a 52-yard field goal with 11:44 remaining in the first half.

The Falcons increased their lead to 9-3 when Zach Harrison tackled Alexander Mattison in the end zone for a safety with 5:35 left.

Hodge got his hand on a punt in the second quarter that caromed forward for 30 yards. In the third quarter, he blocked AJ Cole’s punt to set up a 40-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo.

Koo added a 48-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to make it a 12-point margin.