For years, opposing defenses have crammed near the line of scrimmage and dared the Minnesota Vikings to beat them through the air.

With Brett Favre at the helm, this year's Vikings have a simple response: "Bring it on."

Favre completed 32 of 48 passes for a season-high 392 yards and three touchdowns, and the Vikings intercepted Jay Cutler twice in a 36-10 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

It was the fourth time in 11 games this season that the Vikings (10-1) have attempted at least 31 passes. That's not exactly what Favre was told while Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson was courting him this summer.

"He said I'll come in, hand off to Adrian (Peterson), throw it 15-20 times a game, maybe," said Favre, who matched former Vikings defensive lineman Jim Marshall for the NFL non-kicker record of 282 straight games played. "I thought that sounded good. I didn't believe it. Haven't had any games like that."

Favre threw the ball 46 times in a win over San Francisco in Week 3, 31 times against Green Bay the following week and 50 times at Pittsburgh on Oct. 25. In the process, the Vikings have morphed from a run-first offense into a high-flying aerial show.

"I think people are starting to look at our receivers like they do at Adrian Peterson as a force to be reckoned with," Favre said.

The Bears, like every other defense to face the Vikings this season, focused on stopping Peterson early on Sunday. And Favre picked them apart just as he's done to every other unit.

Chicago held Peterson to 35 yards on 11 carries in the first half, prompting coach Brad Childress to tell offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to open things up.

"You can't smash your head against the wall," Childress said.

Favre responded by completing 20 of 31 throws for 256 yards and three TDs to give Minnesota a 24-7 lead at the break. Favre threw scoring passes to Percy Harvin, who had six catches for 101 yards, Chester Taylor and Visanthe Shiancoe in the second quarter.

"Great player. Hall of Fame player that played that way today," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "But you have to say that we didn't meet the challenge that he and the Vikings faced today. Simple as that."

Cutler and the Bears (4-7) just could not keep up. They were outgained 537-169, earned eight first downs to Minnesota's 32 and managed a measly 2 yards of total offense on 12 plays in the second half.

As excited as Vikings fans were when Favre walked through the door in August, so too were Bears fans when Chicago acquired Cutler from Denver in a trade. But it hasn't gone nearly as well, with Cutler already setting a career high with 20 interceptions.