Bears Finally Get Offensive, Rout Vikings, 34-17 : NFC: Chicago scores more than 21 points for the first time this season.

The Chicago Bears overcame their offensive problems and, for the second week in a row, overcame a challenge to their NFC Central supremacy.

Neal Anderson’s six-yard run and Jim Harbaugh’s seven-yard pass to Anthony Morgan capped the Bears’ opening two drives--the first time all season they have scored on consecutive marches--and Chicago took control of the division Monday night with a 34-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Anderson, who rushed for 91 yards, added a 24-yard touchdown run, and Lemuel Stinson returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown as the Bears scored more than 21 points for the first time this season. Chicago had five drives of at least 10 plays and didn’t punt until 10 minutes remained.

Bear Coach Mike Ditka credited offensive coordinator Greg Landry and receivers coach Vic Rapp for the offensive improvement.

“I thought Vic and Greg did a super job. We tried to do some things we thought we could, and we did. It was a great team effort,” Ditka said. “We haven’t run the ball very well. An important part is play-action passes. If you can’t do that, you can’t run. I thought Harbaugh did a great job.”

The Bears had the ball for 38 minutes 20 seconds to 21:40 for the Vikings, were seven for 13 on third-down conversions to Minnesota’s three for 10, outrushed the Vikings 191 to 87 yards and outgained them 358 to 255.

“We never stopped them,” Viking Coach Jerry Burns said. “We couldn’t stop the run. We couldn’t stop the pass. We couldn’t stop them in third-down situations. This is about as bad a defensive day as we’ve had since I’ve been the head coach here. The tackling was sorry, the coverage was sorry. Their third-down percentage must have been astronomical.”

Chicago (8-2), which beat Detroit last week, has won four in a row to take a two-game lead over the Lions. The Bears are seeking their seventh NFC Central title in the last eight seasons.

The Vikings (5-6), the only team besides the Bears to win the Central title since 1984, fell 3 1/2 games back. Minnesota is 18-21 since winning the ’89 title. The Vikings had won 23 of their previous 29 games at the Metrodome.

As usual, Chicago’s defense was tough, allowing 20 points or fewer for the ninth time in 10 games.

Kevin Butler added field goals of 50 and 41 yards for the Bears, who won a Monday night road game for only the third time in 17 tries.

After Minnesota went 80 yards on the game’s first series, with Darrin Nelson’s six-yard touchdown run giving the Vikings their only lead, the Bears used Anderson’s running and Harbaugh’s short passing to take control.

Harbaugh was 18 for 27 for 180 yards.

Quarterback Rich Gannon, who failed to lead the Vikings to at least 20 points for the first time since replacing Wade Wilson six games ago, completed 19 of 30 passes for 181 yards. He was also Minnesota’s leading rusher, with 32 yards.