Vikings Honor Randy Moss as Receivers Shine in Win Over Bears
The Minnesota Vikings paid tribute to franchise legend Randy Moss during their 30-12 victory over the Chicago Bears on Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The 47-year-old Hall of Famer recently revealed he underwent surgery to remove cancer from his bile duct. Before kickoff, former Vikings receivers Cris Carter and Jake Reed joined team captains at midfield, holding up a purple Moss jersey to honor his legacy.
Justin Jefferson, the Vikings' star receiver, added his own heartfelt message after catching a 7-yard touchdown in the first quarter, shouting into the camera, “We love you, Randy!”
Moss underwent the complex six-hour Whipple procedure on Thanksgiving to remove the cancer. The surgery included removing part of the pancreas, bile duct, small intestine, and gallbladder. During Monday's game, Moss shared his gratitude on social media, posting, “LUV U ALL!”
O’Neill Pushes Through Injury
Right tackle Brian O’Neill battled through a right knee injury that required multiple evaluations. O’Neill, a team captain, first went down in the opening quarter after being hit in the back of the legs during a run play. He returned to finish the game wearing a compression sleeve but was replaced twice by David Quessenberry while undergoing medical checks.
Coach Kevin O’Connell underscored O’Neill’s importance by rushing onto the field when the injury occurred, as the line was already down starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Cam Robinson, filling in for Darrisaw, had a shaky outing with multiple penalties, including three false starts and an illegal formation flag.
Defensive Dominance on Fourth Down
The Vikings entered the game ranked No. 1 in the NFL on fourth-down stops and showed why. On Chicago’s opening possession, Jonathan Greenard and Jerry Tillery stuffed Bears running back D’Andre Swift on a fourth-and-1 attempt. Later, linebacker Blake Cashman stopped Swift again on another fourth-and-1 play.
Minnesota’s defense has allowed just 9 of 28 fourth-down attempts (32%) to succeed this season.
Greenard also forced a key turnover with a strip-sack of Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, ending a streak of 255 consecutive pass attempts without an interception — the longest such streak by a rookie in NFL history.
Key Absences for Both Sides
The Bears were without several starters, including running back Roschon Johnson (concussion) and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (knee). Chicago also started rookie Kiran Amegadjie at left tackle in place of Braxton Jones (concussion).
Meanwhile, Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore missed his second straight game with a hamstring strain, forcing Minnesota to rely on Shaq Griffin and Fabian Moreau in expanded roles.
Pro Bowl Fan Voting: Vikings Shine
With fan voting for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games closing Dec. 23, Vikings players have garnered strong support. Minnesota currently ranks fourth in team votes, with 11 players in the top five for their respective positions.
- No. 1 at their positions: Justin Jefferson, Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), Andrew DePaola (LS).
- Top performers: Jonathan Greenard (2nd), C.J. Ham (2nd), Trent Sherfield (2nd), Camryn Bynum (4th), Josh Metellus (4th), Sam Darnold (5th), Garrett Bradbury (5th).
Star-Studded Night in Minnesota
Monday night’s game was packed with local and national stars. Hall of Fame Twins catcher Joe Mauer sounded the Gjallarhorn before kickoff, while Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Olympic medalist diver Sarah Bacon did the honors at halftime. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles also attended, supporting her husband, Bears safety Jonathan Owens.
