Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Devin Hester's 45-yard punt return broke a scoreless deadlock, keying the Chicago Bears' 23-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field.

It was a sloppy NFC North smash-mouth battle in the bitter cold and swirling winds along Lake Michigan, featuring an NFL single-game record ten turnovers as both teams battled both the elements and themselves.

Cedric Benson rushed nine times for 60 yards and one touchdown, Ricky Manning returned an interception for another score, while Bernard Berrian caught four balls for 21 yards for the Bears (10-2), who clinched their second straight NFC North Division crown.

Rex Grossman had a dismal outing, throwing for only 34 yards on 6-of-19 passing to go with three interceptions.

"I'm extremely proud of this team, I'm proud of what we accomplished this season," said Grossman. "Today just showed why we have the best defense in the league and the best special teams in the league, and there's a lot of great things about our offense. Right now the passing game is not one of them, but it was great earlier in the year."

Chester Taylor gained 99 yards on 17 carries before leaving the game in the third quarter with a rib problem. Ciatrick Fason rushed for 75 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown and Mewelde Moore had five receptions for 51 yards for the Vikings (5-7), who have dropped five of their last six games.

Ryan Longwell added two field goals in the loss and Brad Johnson completed only 11-of-26 passes for 73 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.

Backup quarterback Brooks Bollinger completed 7-of-9 passes for 70 yards and third-stringer Tarvaris Jackson hit on 3-of-4 passing attempts for 35 yards and one fumble.

Each team did little in the first quarter but trade turnovers, and the trend continued into the second.

Grossman made a crucial drive-killing mistake on the first play of the quarter, throwing up a ball that was intended for Berrian at the Minnesota three, but the vicious cross-wind knocked it right into the hands of Antoine Winfield.

After that Minnesota drive failed deep in their own territory, Hester scooped up a bouncing punt, shook off three would-be tacklers, and raced down the right side for his 45-yard score, giving the Bears a 7-0 lead with 2:40 played in the second.

The Vikings responded on their ensuing possession, marching 57 yards in six plays to get on the board. On the drive, Taylor rumbled off tackle for a 38- yard gain to the Bears' 20, and Brian Urlacher was penalized for roughing the passer, but Chicago held on 3rd-and-goal from the five, and Longwell was called upon to hit from 23 yards, making it a 7-3 game.

On Minnesota's first drive of the third quarter, they marched 69 yards in 11 plays, culminating with Longwell's 30-yard make, bringing the Vikes within 7-6 with 4:53 played.

Following another series where the teams traded interceptions, the Bears finally capitalized when Manning stepped in front of Johnson's sideline pass intended for Marcus Robinson, and returned it 54 yards to push the lead to 14-6 with 4:33 left in the third.

Johnson afforded the Bears another chance to score on the next play from scrimmage when he dumped off a ball under pressure right into Urlacher's hands at the Vikings' 33. Benson dove and hit the pylon four plays later on a 24- yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 21-6 lead with just over three minutes remaining.

After that costly error, the veteran signal-caller's day was done, replaced by Bollinger.

Chicago's defense added insult to injury 61 seconds into the fourth quarter, swarming Fason in the end zone for a safety, bringing the score to 23-6.

Under Bollinger, the Vikings finally moved the ball more fluidly, taking more than 6 1/2 minutes to go 89 yards on 11 plays. Fason capped the drive by going up the middle for a four-yard score, cutting the deficit to 10, 23-13, with 5:40 to go.

The Vikings then recovered Longwell's onsides kick at their own 44, but could not move the ball past midfield due to a killer combination of penalties and Chicago's defensive domination. Things got worse for Minnesota, as Bollinger came out of the game after being dumped on his right side while taking a sack on that drive's final play.

Jackson was brought in to replace Bollinger, and on the Vikings' final series, his lost fumble deep in Bears territory salted away Chicago's win.

"It's very frustrating," said Vikings tight end Jermaine Wiggins. "Early in the game we were able to get some really great field positionoff turnovers and we weren't able to do anything. As an offense, we had way too many penalties and we can't have turnovers. It's about turnovers in this league. If you have more turnovers than the other team, nine times out of ten, you're going to lose."

Game Notes

Chicago has won four of the last five meetings, and the last six at Soldier Field...Coming into the game, the Vikings gave up just 57 rushing yards per game, and held the Bears to 83 yards on the ground...Manning's INT return was the first of his career...The Bears' safety, credited to Tank Johnson, was their first since December, 2004...Minnesota lost despite racking up 348 yards of total offense and 21 first downs.