CHICAGO — It ended up being way more stressful than the Vikings expected it to be on Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field.

A couple of mistakes down the stretch loomed large for the Vikings as they tried to put the Chicago Bears away for good.

That paved the way for overtime where the Vikings prevailed, thanks in large part to the stellar play from veteran quarterback Sam Darnold.

Here are five takeaways from the Vikings’ 30-27 win over the Bears:

Sam Darnold balled out

You could make an argument that this was the best game Darnold has played with the Vikings. He put the team on his back, completing 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards and a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions.

The defining stretch for Darnold came in overtime when he walked onto the field knowing the Vikings needed points to win the game. He proceeded to complete all six of his passes on the final drive, getting the Vikings in position to kick a game-winning field goal.

Whether it was the 13-yard pass to receiver Jordan Addison, the 20-yard pass to receiver Justin Jefferson, or the 29-yard pass to tight end T.J. Hockenson, Darnold stepped up when the Vikings needed him most.

The performance proved that Darnold is indeed good enough to take the Vikings where they want to go.

Jordan Addison was spectacular

It felt like only a matter of time before Addison reminded everybody how good he is.

The breakout happened in the matchup against a strong Bears defense.

After drawing single coverage for most of the game with Jefferson garnering a lot of attention, Addison consistently made the defender across from him pay, finishing with eight catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.

The biggest play from Addison came right out after halftime as he hauled in a pass near the sideline, somehow managed to stay in bounds, and raced for into enemy territory for a 69-yard gain.

Maybe the outburst from Addison makes opposing teams reconsider how they defend Jefferson in the future. That would certainly be something the Vikings welcome with open arms.

T.J. Hockenson is back

Similarly to Addison, Hockenson benefitted from the way Jefferson was being defended snap in and snap out. The game plan allowed Hockenson to draw a favorable matchup on most plays from scrimmage.

It should come as no surprise that Hockenson took advantage time and time again. He finished with seven catches for 114 yards, including a pivotal play in overtime that helped the Vikings earn the win.

It was the best game that Hockenson has had since returning from a torn ACL earlier this month. He should continue to get better and better as he gets reacclimated to the offense.

If this game was any indication, it’s clear that Hockenson is developing a rapport with Darnold.

Jonathan Greenard is elite

When the Vikings needed a stop in overtime, edge rusher Johnathan Greenard was there to make a play. He used his relentless motor to chase down rookie quarterback Caleb Williams for a sack that went down as a 12-yard loss.

That helped the Vikings force a punt.

This has become commonplace for Greenard, as he’s slowly established himself among the best pass rushers in the NFL. Though he might not have the name recognition of, say, star edge rusher Danielle Hunter, Greenard has proven that he’s equally as impactful.

There were ups and downs on special teams

The good news for the Vikings is that defensive tackle Jerry Tillery blocked a field goal and reserve edge rusher Bo Richter recovered a fumble after a muffed punt.

The bad news for the Vikings is they allowed a 55-yard kickoff return at a pivotal moment and they failed to recover an onside kick that would’ve iced the game.

The ups and downs on special teams nearly defined the game before the Vikings managed to escape with a win in overtime. The blunders are something special teams coordinator Matt Daniels must get fixed sooner rather than later.

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