MINNEAPOLIS -- As snow steadily descended outside the Metrodome on Sunday, the Chicago Bears were reminded that their playoff fate will be determined in the final four games of the regular season.
Jason Campbell replaced Jay Cutler, who took numerous hard hits during the game, with four minutes remaining and the Bears down two touchdowns. He hit Brandon Marshall on a 16-yard TD pass to bring the Bears to within 21-14 with 1:48 left to play in regulation.
Minnesota's defense made a major impact in the third quarter. Cutler threw an interception that safety Harrison Smith returned 56 yards for a touchdown with 3:27 left in the period and the Vikings led 21-7.
Shortly before halftime, Cutler hit Alshon Jeffery on a 23-yard TD pass just with 1:52 to play in the second quarter to cut the Vikings' lead to 14-7. The seven-play drive covered 69 yards.
Earlier, after Jeffery fell down on his route, a Cutler pass was intercepted by Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson. He returned the pick 44 yards to the Bears' 5. Adrian Peterson scored his second TD of the day from a yard out to make it 14-0 at the 8:46 mark of the first quarter.
Peterson -- who gained 104 yards in the first quarter -- had greeted the Bears with a 51-yard run on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage down to the Bears' 29. The drive ended with a 1-yard TD run by Peterson with 11:53 left in the first quarter. Blair Walsh converted and the Vikings led 7-0.
More bad news: Robbie Gould suffered a strained calf during warmups, and punter Adam Podlesh had to handle the opening kickoff. Gould was able to kick an extra point in the second quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Marshall made his 100th catch of the season, marking the fourth time in his career that he has reached the century mark in receptions.
Bears safety Craig Steltz was ruled out for the game with a chest injury. Defensive tackle Henry Melton left the field on a cart after walking off with an apparent leg injury, but he later returned.
The Bears came into the game as the fifth seed in the NFC, having beaten the Vikings 28-10 two weeks ago. A home loss to Seattle last Sunday left the Bears sorely in need of a triumph at the Metrodome. The Bears and Packers entered the day tied with 8-4 records, but Green Bay held the tiebreaker after beating Chicago in Week 2. The Packers host the Lions on Sunday night.
fmitchell@tribune.com
Twitter @kicker34
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