Bears sink Vikings in overtime

CHICAGO (AP) — Jay Cutler threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Devin Aromashodu in overtime, and the Chicago Bears beat the fading Minnesota Vikings 36-30 on Monday night to give New Orleans Saints homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Nick Roach recovered a fumble by Adrian Peterson following a catch, setting up Cutler’s fourth touchdown pass of the game and sending Minnesota (11-4) to its third loss in four games.

This one comes following a dustup between star quarterback Brett Favre and coach Brad Childress on the sideline last week, and it prevented the Vikings from locking up a first-round playoff bye.

Sidney Rice made a leaping touchdown catch of a fourth-down pass from Favre with 16 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

Danieal Manning’s 59-yard kickoff return — his second long return of the game — helped the Bears take a 30-23 lead when Jay Cutler passed 20 yards to Earl Bennett for a TD with 4:55 left.

But the Vikings, who trailed 16-0 at halftime and 23-6 in the third quarter, moved in for the tying 6-yard score behind Favre. Adrian Peterson went 16 yards with a pass and a 19-yard completion to Percy Harvin moved the ball to the 19 with just under 2 minutes remaining.

Favre then drilled another key third-down pass, this one to Rice for 11 yards and the Vikings had a first-and-goal at the 7 with 1:04 remaining.

After a third-down pass from the 6 sailed high, Favre went back to the corner of the end zone and a leaping Rice beat Corey Graham.