6:06 PM - Welcome to my live blog from Soldier Field! From now until the end of tonight's game between the Bears and Vikings, I'll bring you all the latest developments while also providing a behind-the-scenes look at what's transpiring both on and off the field.

6:29 PM - The Bears signed punter Richmond McGee today in case Brad Maynard was unable to play because of a groin injury. But Maynard tested out his injury before the game and will play. Receiver Devin Hester (calf) and safeties Al Afalava (knee) and Kevin Payne (ankle) will miss the game with injuries, however. They will be replaced in the starting lineup by Craig Steltz and Josh Bullocks. Other inactives for the Bears are receiver Juaquin Iglesias, guard Lance Louis, tackle James Marten and defensive tackle Matt Toeaina.

6:33 PM - Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams will miss tonight's game with an elbow injury. He will be replaced by former Bear Jimmy Kennedy. Other Vikings inactives include receiver Jaymar Johnson, cornerback Karl Paymah, tight end Garrett Mills, linebacker J Leman, center Jon Cooper (Mellencamp), and defensive end Jayme Mitchell.

7:18 PM - Just returned from the field. It's cold and very windy with gusts up to 30 miles per hour (my fingers still haven't thawed out). The wind is blowing from south to north and likely will impact tonight's game.

7:21 PM - I spoke with Brad Maynard on the Bears sideline. He hurt his groin on Wednesday, and didn't punt again until Saturday when he felt some pain and stopped. But he said he didn't feel any discomfort at all while testing the injury during pre-game warm-ups, though he was only punting at about 75 percent. If he reinjures himself during the game, Robbie Gould would handle punting duties.

7:23 PM - I told Rashied Davis that I had a feeling he would force or recover a fumble while covering a punt or a kickoff tonight. Let's see whether I'm clairvoyant.

7:25 PM - Here's hoping that tonight's game is much closer than the first meeting between the Bears and Vikings Nov. 29 in Minnesota, which was basically like a monster truck pitted against a matchbox car. The Vikings won that game 36-10, totally dominating the Bears in total yards (537-169), first downs (31-8), offensive plays (83-38) and time of possession (40:55-19:05).

7:32 PM - Just watched ESPN's pre-game show, and the Bears aren't getting a lot of love. Only one of the eight analysts picked the Bears to win tonight's game, and that was a certain former coach who owns a certain restaurant in a certain city who is known simply as Da Coach. In their Sports Nation poll, only one state picked the Bears to win, and that's Louisiana. They must be pretty pumped down in the Bayou about Craig Steltz making his first start of the season tonight.

7:40 PM - The Bears have won the coin toss and will receive the opening kickoff. Danieal Manning drops deep.

7:45 PM - The Bears went three-and-out on the game's opening possession. Matt Forte gained three yards on first down and Jay Cutler followed with two incomplete passes. The first one should have been intercepted by linebacker Ben Leber, who dropped the ball.

7:58 PM - Robbie Gould's 22-yard field goal gave the Bears a 3-0 lead with 7:24 left in the first quarter. The kick capped a nine-play, 56-yard drive that was highlighted by Jay Cutler's 26-yard pass to Desmond Clark on third-and-three. The Bears settled for the field goal after Cutler failed to connect with Greg Olsen on third-and-goal from the 4. The Bears have now scored first for just the fourth time this season, and Gould's 129th career field goal snapped a tie with Bob Thomas for second on the Bears' all-time list behind Kevin Butler (243).

8:10 PM - The Bears defense generated a takeaway as Tommie Harris recovered a Brett Favre fumble at the Chicago 40. The ball squirted out of Favre's hand while he was being pressured by Israel Idonije.

8:13 PM - That's the end of the first quarter. By the way, the Bears are undefeated when leading after the first period this year, though it's only happened on two previous occasions. They led the Browns 6-0 en route to a 30-6 win and were ahead of the Rams 10-0 in a 17-9 victory.

8:18 PM - The Bears converted the Brett Favre fumble into Robbie Gould's 42-yard field goal, extending their lead to 6-0 with 13:23 left in the second quarter. The Bears settled for the kick after Jay Cutler threw one way and Greg Olsen cut another on a third-down blitz.

8:28 PM - The Bears defense forced another punt as Israel Idonije stuffed Chester Taylor for no gain on third-and-two from the 50. The Bears defense is playing exceptionally well, especially the line, but I have no idea why the Vikings aren't throwing the ball more. Brett Favre destroyed the Bears defense in the first meeting between the teams in Minnesota.

8:39 PM - After failing to connect on two previous drives on key third-down plays, Jay Cutler rifled a 7-yard TD pass to Greg Olsen, giving the Bears a 13-0 lead with 5:56 left in the second quarter. The score came after Cutler's 26-yard pass to Devin Aromashodu on third-and-nine. Aromashodu made a diving catch and then had the presence of mind to get up off the ground and pick up an extra six yards to the Minnesota 2.

8:49 PM - If someone has any idea why the Vikings are repeatedly running the ball when the Bears are geared up to stop the run, please let me know! Could it be that coach Brad Childress is trying to send a message to coach Brent Favre about who's boss? (And I know it's Brett, but I prefer Brent in tribute to what a former Bears coach used to call the future Hall of Famer).

8:50 PM - Greg Olsen's seven touchdown receptions are the third most in a season by a Bears tight end behind Mike Ditka's 12 in 1961 and eight in 1963.

8:55 PM - Chris Williams is doing an excellent job blocking Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen. Williams got some help from Matt Forte earlier in the game, but the second-year pro has been handling Williams one-on-one.

8:58 PM - Robbie Gould's 41-yard field goal on the final play of the first half gave the Bears a 16-0 lead. This is only the second time all season the Bears have shut out an opponent in the first half. They also blanked the Browns in a 30-6 win Nov. 1 at Soldier Field.

9:16 PM - Well, what do you know ... The Vikings had to punt after Bernard Berrian dropped a third-down pass. But Earl Bennett made a big mistake in fielding the punt at his own 3-yard line when it appeared the ball would go into the end zone. Let's hope that miscue doesn't come back to hurt the Bears.

9:29 PM - Adrian Peterson's 1-yard run drew the Vikings to within 16-6 with 8:17 left in the third quarter. Israel Idonije followed by blocking his second extra point attempt of the season. Minnesota struck quickly. Brett Favre completed a 38-yard pass to Bernard Berrian down the right sideline to the Chicago 22, and then Charles Tillman was penalized for interfering with Sidney Rice in the end zone on the next play, giving the Vikings the ball at the 1. Peterson scampered around left end for the TD on the next snap.

9:35 PM - The Bears responded immediately following Minnesota's first touchdown as Danieal Manning returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to the Vikings' 34. After Greg Olsen drew a pass interference penalty on linebacker Jasper Brinkley at the Minnesota 4, Jay Cutler tossed a 2-yard TD pass to a wide open Desmond Clark off a play-action fake, extending the Bears' lead to 23-6 with 6:30 left in the third quarter.

9:45 PM - The Vikings answered the Bears' touchdown with one of their own as Brett Favre capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 6-yard scoring strike to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, drawing Minnesota to within 23-13 with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter.

9:51 PM - Johnny Knox had a crease on a kickoff return, but slipped to the ground after dashing 30 yards to the Chicago 40. After he was on the ground, a Vikings player landed on top of him, injuring what appeared to be his left ankle. Knox was carted off the field.

9:54 PM - The Bears made their first major mistake on offense as Jay Cutler's pass intended for Earl Bennett was intercepted by cornerback Cedric Griffin at the Minnesota 49. Cutler rolled to his left and forced the pass on third-and-17.

10:05 PM - Things are going from bad to worse. The Vikings are marching and the Bears have had two players carted off the field in a 3:01 span. This time it was cornerback Charles Tillman, who got drilled in the ribs by teammate Craig Steltz and had to be wheeled off the field on a stretcher.

10:07 PM - Ryan Longwell's 41-yard field goal drew the Vikings to within 23-16 with 12:10 left in the fourth quarter. Minnesota settled for the kick after Tommie Harris and Lance Briggs stuffed Adrian Peterson for no gain on third-and-two.

10:13 PM - With Charles Tillman's injury, the Bears are now missing three-fourths of their starting secondary. Safeties Al Afalava and Kevin Payne are both inactive tonight because of injuries. The secondary as it stands now consists of cornerbacks Zackary Bowman and Corey Graham and safeties Josh Bullocks and Craig Steltz.

10:23 PM - Adrian Peterson's 1-yard touchdown run tied the score 23-23 with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter. Since early in the third period, the Vikings have scored on four straight possessions, marching 80, 63 and 79 yards for TDs and 30 yards for a field goal. Minnesota has scored 17 unanswered points.

10:26 PM - The Bears answered again thanks in part to Danieal Manning, whose 59-yard kickoff return to the Minnesota 21 set up Jay Cutler's 20-yard TD pass to Earl Bennett, giving the Bears a 30-23 lead with 4:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.

10:33 PM - We're at the two minute warning, the Vikings have a first and 10 at the Bears 19.

10:34 PM - It will be third and nine after an incomplete pass and a short draw.

10:35 PM - First down, Favre hits Sidney Rice at the seven yard line. He sat in between Briggs and Vasher. First and goal. There is 1:04 remaining.

10:36 PM - Screen to Harvin, Bullocks makes the tackle for no gain. Second and goal.

10:37 PM - It's going to be third and goal at the six and a half. Favre is trying to chip away, but they're not moving.

10:38 PM - It's going to be fourth and goal at the six. Favre was pressured by Alex Brown, and overthrew Harvin in the endzone. The Vikings take a time out. This game is going to come down to one play.

10:39 PM - Fourth and goal at the six... now the Bears call a timeout. There are 22 seconds remaining.

10:41 PM - Fourth and goal... Touchdown Vikings. Favre hit Sidney Rice along the left side of the endzone, and Rice made a nice catch going up in the air over Corey Graham.

10:41 PM - The extra point is good and we're tied at 30-30.

10:45 PM - Cutler takes a knee and we're headed for overtime. The Bears have won the toss and will get the ball to start OT.

10:47 PM - Bears will start at the 32.

10:48 PM - Cutler hits a wide open Aromashodu who runs across the middle of the field all the way to the Vikings 35 for a 33-yard gain. First down.

10:50 PM - On second and 10, Cutler hits Des Clark to the 31. Third and six coming.

10:50 PM - Draw to Forte to the 27. Gould is coming on for the field goal.

10:51 PM - Gould from 45 yards... it is no good. He misses to the right. It was close, but the Vikings will get a crack at it from the Bears 35.

10:53 PM - It's going to be third and 15. Favre was pressured by Graham on first down and had to get rid of it, then Alex Brown got around Bryant McKinnie for a sack on second down.

10:54 PM - Wow. The Bears get to Favre again. This time it is Mark Anderson beating Phil Loadholt for the sack. The Bears force the punt and will start on offense at their own 36.

10:56 PM - Big third and seven coming here... Cutler fires for Bennett, but its knocked away by Benny Sapp, and the Bears will punt again.

10:57 PM - Minnesota will start at their own 17.

10:58 PM - No gain on first down. Steltz was in on the stop of Peterson.

11:00 PM - The Bears have recovered an Adrian Peterson fumble. We'll have a review, but this should be upheld. It was a great strip by Hillenmeyer just as Peterson's knee was about hit the ground. He got a hand in there and popped it out. Nick Roach recovered, and it looks like the Bears will have it at the Vikings 39.

11:03 PM - Game over! Jay Cutler just hit Devin Aromoshodu for a 39-yard game winning touchdown. Aromashodu got behind Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield and Cutler hit him in stride. The Bears have beat the Vikings 36-30.

11:10 PM - The Bears move to 6-9 with the win and head to Detroit to try to end the season with a two-game winning streak.

11:11 PM - Cutler finishes the night 20 of 35 for 273 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Devin Aromashodu sets a career high with 150 receiving yards on seven catches, including the game winner.