CHICAGO — At least one Chicago curse is yet to be reversed.

The Vikings fell to the Bears 20-10 on Monday night, losing for the eighth time at Soldier Field since 2007.

Minnesota entered the game leading the NFL in yards allowed and tied for the league lead in points allowed, but the Vikings (5-2) surrendered 403 yards to a balanced Bears attack that benefitted from the return of Jay Culter.

The quarterback finished 20-of-31 passing (64.5 percent) for 252 yards with a touchdown, no turnovers and a passer rating of 100.5 in his first action since suffering a thumb injury in Week 2.

Cutler used his feet to extend plays, and had help from rookie running back Jordan Howard, who rushed 26 times for 153 yards and a score. The Bears totaled 158 yards rushing and limited the Vikings to 57 yards on the ground.

Players from both teams hadn't left the field before the stadium began playing Go Cubs Go, the song normally played at Wrigley Field after Cubs victories, like the night before when the Cubs stayed alive with a win over the Indians in Game 5 in a bid to win the World Series for the first time since 1908.

The Bears became the only team in the NFC North to win in Week 8 by taking control early.

The Vikings were 0-for-4 on third downs in the fourth quarter and forced to punt on all four possessions in the opening period.

The Bears scored first, going up 3-0 on a 30-yard field goal by Connor Barth that was set up by a 69-yard run by Howard.

Chicago added another field goal, a 28-yarder, early in the second quarter on a drive that included a 24-yard pass from Cutler to Cameron Meredith and a 34-yard gain after a shovel pass from Cutler to Howard.

The Bears built a 13-0 lead with 7:49 left in the first half with a 43-yard touchdown drive that Howard capped with a 2-yard run. Cutler was 3-of-3 passing on the drive for 40 yards, and Howard was untouched around the edge for the touchdown.

Minnesota got on the board with 25 seconds left in the first half on a 30-yard field goal by Blair Walsh. The kick capped a 15-play drive that was extended by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Cornelius Washington.

Washington left the bench area and stormed onto the field in celebration as Adam Thielen recovered a ball that was ruled a backward pass by Sam Bradford. Instead of facing fourth-and-9 at the Minnesota 43, the Vikings received first-and-10 at the Chicago 42.

Bradford connected with Kyle Rudolph for a gain of 8, and followed with a 21-yard completion to Thielen, moving to the Bears 13-yard line. Matt Asiata gained just enough on third-and-1 from the 4-yard line, but the Vikings next three snaps were runs for 1 and 0 yards and a sack of Bradford.

The Bears opened the third quarter with a 75-yard touchdown drive capped with an 11-yard pass from Cutler to Alshon Jeffery, who also had a 34-yard catch to convert a third-and-5 on the drive.

Bradford connected with Stefon Diggs for a 25-yard touchdown with 5:47 remaining but it couldn't spark a comeback on the road. He finished 23-of-37 passing (62.2 percent) for 228 yards for a passer rating of 88.6.

The Vikings will have a short week to prepare for the Lions (4-4), who will visit U.S. Bank Stadium at noon Sunday.