With some of the franchise's most distinguished players on hand for a prime-time game, with the NFC North lead at stake, the Vikings struggled with their composure early on as defensive end Ray Edwards and cornerback Benny Sapp drew costly third-down penalties.

But the Vikings dramatically changed the momentum of the game -- and perhaps their season -- during a one-minute sequence in the second quarter that keyed a 34-14 victory over the Chicago Bears .

As the Bears were sending out their punt unit, Sapp provided the opponents a second chance with a personal foul penalty for shoving receiver Rashied Davis after the whistle. On the next play, Bears rookie running back Matt Forte raced down the left sideline for a 26-yard gain that gave his offense a first and goal from the Vikings' 1. But after an incompletion, the Vikings stopped three consecutive runs, including a run by Forte on fourth down.

Then, on the first offensive play, quarterback Gus Frerotte connected with receiver Bernard Berrian on a 99-yard touchdown, tying an NFL record held by 10 other receivers.

"That changed the momentum of the game," Vikings safety Darren Sharper said. "That was huge. That took the wind out of their sails."

And the Vikings cruised from there.

Although they have the toughest remaining schedule of the three divisional contenders, the Vikings (7-5) have sole possession of first place in the NFC North, and they got an assist from the Carolina Panthers , who dramatically defeated the Green Bay Packers and dropped them to 5-7.

The schedule is kind to the Vikings, as they head to Detroit to play the winless Lions. But several players insisted that Sunday's victory would be pointless if they overlook the Lions.

"It's huge because (the game against the Lions) was the worst game at home," Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson said, referring to the Vikings' 12-10 win over the Lions on Oct. 12. "They're a proud group. It's going to be a dogfight."

The Vikings survived one Sunday night.

Frerotte endured a vicious late hit in the second quarter that was not flagged by referee Bill Leavey and his crew. After he attempted a pass into the end zone to Bobby Wade, Frerotte was drilled by Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, and the quarterback was laid out, face-first, with his arms and legs outstretched.

But Frerotte returned to the lineup, and he rebounded with a solid effort, completing 16 of 25 passes for 210 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He also scored on a 1-yard plunge just before halftime.

"Well, you know what I've said about before is that he is a tough guy," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "You've got to be tough mentally and tough physically, and he's both."

Just as important was the pressure the Vikings applied to Bears quarterback Kyle Orton.

After struggling against him in the October game, the Vikings rattled him throughout Sunday, pressuring his receivers off the line of scrimmage and forcing him to hold the ball longer than he wanted to. Orton was just 11 of 29 for 153 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions, which the Vikings turned into 17 points.

"Tough to win games when you throw three picks," Orton said, "I need to step it up and put it on myself, and get back to work and get better."

Things were rolling so well for the Vikings that running back Adrian Peterson punched the ball in from a yard out in the fourth quarter, despite the Bears having 12 players on the field, and Sapp got a bit of redemption with an interception of Orton.

Afterward, the Vikings enjoyed the win, but several players didn't want to savor it for too long.

"This doesn't mean anything if we don't win in Detroit," Sharper said.