CHICAGO – Now that they’ve clinched their second straight division title, the Chicago Bears can focus on bigger goals: a No. 1 seed and, maybe, the conference championship.

Devin Hester ran into the record book again, Ricky Manning Jr. returned an interception for a touchdown and the Bears claimed their second straight NFC North title with a 23-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on a frigid Sunday afternoon.

“The defense had to carry the offense today,” Manning said. “That’s the way it is going to be sometimes. We understand that, and we are up for that challenge if that has to be done.”

Hester tied an NFL record with his fourth touchdown return, and Manning ran an interception back 54 yards for the Bears (10-2), who lead the NFC by two games.

Chicago overcame another shaky performance by quarterback Rex Grossman. The Vikings couldn’t overcome Brad Johnson’s, however.

With the temperature around 20 and wind chill in single digits, Grossman did little to stop the debate whether he should remain the starter. And Johnson was replaced.

With some fans calling for backup Brian Griese after a loss at New England, Grossman was 6-of-19 for 34 yards and threw three interceptions for the second straight week. But he stayed in the game.

He has 14 interceptions in the last seven games after throwing three in the first five. He was picked off twice in the first half, and his first attempt of the third quarter was intercepted.

“I never really got anything going, and that is something I need to fix,” said Grossman, whose rating was 1.3 – 0.0 after three periods. “It’s a simple formula to fix. It’s just hard to get done.”

And he’ll get another opportunity.

Coach Lovie Smith was adamant that a change is not in the works and became agitated by questions about the quarterback situation.

“There’s a difference between perception and reality,” Smith said. “The reality is we’re 10-2 right now. We just won the division with Rex at quarterback, so that’s what I go on.”

Johnson wasn’t any better than Grossman.

The veteran was 11-of-26 with 73 yards and four interceptions before being lifted for Brooks Bollinger late in the third quarter, and his last two passes ended in the Bears’ hands.

Back from a one-game suspension for his role in a Los Angeles restaurant altercation, Manning picked off his team-leading fifth pass at the Chicago 46. He returned it for his first touchdown this year to make it 14-6 in the third quarter. On the next play from scrimmage, Brian Urlacher intercepted Johnson.

That led to a 24-yard touchdown run by Cedric Benson and a quarterback change for the Vikings. Minnesota coach Brad Childress wouldn’t say if that will carry over to next week.

“I would really be remiss about making a decision about a starting quarterback a half-hour after a Sunday game,” he said.