The Vikings **offense struggled to capitalize early** in **falling 25-20** to the Bears in Chicago on Sunday night.
Minnesota's defense **forced three turnovers**, including two interceptions by Anthony Harris, the second and third of his career.
The Bears **defensive front proved stout** and **helped force three turnovers** of its own.
Here are three stats that stood out:
1. Third-down conversions
The Vikings defense entered Week 11 leading the NFL by allowing opponents to convert just 25.7 percent of third downs (nearly matching its historically stingy 25.2 percent allowance rate on third downs in 2017).
The Bears, however, were able to convert six of 12 third downs on Sunday, including three of the six that required gains of at least 7.
Mitchell Trubisky's 9-yard scramble on third-and-7 kept the Bears from matching the Vikings three-and-punt on a drive that resulted in a 33-yard field goal.
Trubisky later added completions of 12 and 17 yards on a pair of third-and-8s in the fourth quarter. The 17-yard strike to Allen Robinson helped set up a 48-yard field goal.
2. Red zone woes
The Bears had only allowed 19 trips by opponents inside their own 20-yard line in the first nine games of the season.
More so, when foes had made it into the red zone, they had scored 13 touchdowns (68.4 percent of the time).
The Vikings made five trips into the red zone against the Bears but scored touchdowns just twice (40 percent).
Minnesota's first great scoring opportunity occurred with the team trailing 3-0 before a fumble by Dalvin Cook gave Chicago the ball at its own 15.
The Vikings also had to settle for a pair of field goals on their next two red zone trips that followed excellent starting field position.
Harris' second interception and return gave Minnesota the ball at the Chicago 31, but the Vikings netted 13 yards on eight plays. A fumble forced by Jaleel Johnson and recovered by Harrison Smith then gave the Vikings the ball at the 29, but Minnesota netted 11 yards on five plays.
3. Skewed second quarter
The Bears ran 26 plays, compared to 10 for the Vikings in the second quarter when Chicago possessed the ball for 12:08.
Chicago was able to establish a rhythm with 10 first downs earned and more importantly give the Vikings offense the blues.
The Vikings netted minus-4 yards on their first six plays of the quarter. Minnesota was moving the ball in the final minute, going from its own 25 to the Chicago 32 before Kirk Cousins was intercepted by Adrian Amos on a play that started with 25 seconds remaining in the first half.
