EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota Vikings have run out of safety nets. One more loss puts their playoff hopes in serious peril.

“It’s a shame we made it hard on ourselves, because we certainly have,” coach Mike Tice said. “But it is what it is.”

Players had Monday off, with a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs looming Saturday afternoon. Not exactly an ideal opponent for a team that needs to win to remain on top of the NFC North – a division it once led by 3 games.

“Fortunately, we have a short week – we don’t have enough time to lament over it,” Tice said, referring to Minnesota’s 13-10 loss at Chicago on Sunday. The Vikings outgained the Bears 393 yards to 232 and held an edge of nearly 15 minutes in time of possession, but less-than-stellar special teams play was costly and an end-zone interception with 62 seconds left sealed the defeat.

Randy Moss had his hands on Daunte Culpepper’s pass, but Chicago rookie Charles Tillman ripped the ball away to keep Minnesota from scoring – and staying ahead of Green Bay.

The Vikings (8-6) will be division champions if they win their final two games, even if the Packers (8-6) also finish with two victories. In that case, Minnesota would win the fourth tiebreaker with a better conference record, since the other three (head-to-head matchups, division record and record against common opponents) would be even.

Minnesota plays at Arizona on Dec. 28. Green Bay travels to Oakland next week before hosting Denver.

“If you want to stand up and fight, we’ll go 10-6,” defensive tackle Chris Hovan said. “If you want to turn it in, we’ll go 8-8. Guys aren’t going to turn it in. We’re going to go 10-6.”

In October, 10-6 would have sounded like a failure. The Vikings won their first six games, but they lost their next four and have now dropped six of eight. They’d love to be able to forget their recent struggles by closing the season with some momentum and making the playoffs for the first time in three years.

The toughest part to take from Sunday’s loss for Minnesota was how well the defense played, even if it was against the Bears’ depleted offensive line and rookie quarterback Rex Grossman. Their 232 total yards were the second-lowest total allowed by the Vikings this year.

Onterrio Smith (148 yards rushing) filled in admirably for Michael Bennett at running back, and Culpepper was efficient and mistake-free – except for the game-turning interception.

Instead it was special teams that cost the Vikings.

Smith and Keenan Howry had no impact returning punts and kickoffs, and rookie punter Eddie Johnson averaged just 34.3 yards on four kicks.

Johnson’s biggest gaffe, however, came midway through the third quarter. He fielded a low snap and fumbled as he tried to spin the laces – getting tackled for no gain and setting up a field goal by Chicago.

It was the third time in three weeks Johnson mishandled a snap, and the team brought in free agent Leo Araguz for a tryout Monday.

“I like Eddie Johnson, but we have to win two football games,” Tice said.