Chicago ? Brett Favre cranked up and made one more impossible throw, zinging a touchdown pass in the fading seconds. Too bad for the Minnesota Vikings, that merely put them into overtime.

The Vikings lost again Monday night, beaten by the Chicago Bears 36-30 when Jay Cutler tossed a 39-yard strike to Devin Aromashodu.

“I know we’re fortunate to be in the playoffs but we have to play better than we did the last few weeks or we’ll be home fairly quickly,” Favre said.

After Favre’s stunning, fourth-down pass to Sidney Rice with 16 seconds left in regulation, Cutler threw the game-winner with just over 9 minutes left in overtime to prevent the Vikings (11-4) from locking up a first-round playoff bye.

baseball

Mets sign righty Escobar

New York — The New York Mets have signed right-hander Kelvim Escobar to a one-year contract. The team announced the deal on Monday. He was expected to get $1.25 million.

Giants to sign DeRosa

San Francisco — The San Francisco Giants made their first big splash of the offseason Monday, reaching an agreement with free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa on a two-year contract. The 12-year veteran was in San Francisco and passed a physical Monday. The team planned to formally announce his deal today.

NBA

McGrady seeks trade

Houston — A person with knowledge of the discussions told the Associated Press that Tracy McGrady’s representatives have asked the Houston Rockets to trade him.

The seven-time All-Star has been asking for more playing time as he tries to come back from offseason microfracture surgery on his left knee. He left the team and returned to Houston over the weekend.

Knicks’ Robinson fined

New York — New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Monday after his agent made a trade request.

“Players are not permitted to make trade requests publicly and are responsible for public statements relating to them,” NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.

Men’s college basketball

NU freshman to transfer

Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska coach Doc Sadler says freshman Adrien Coleman is leaving the team. Sadler said Monday that Coleman plans to transfer to another school. The coach gave no reason. Coleman appeared in six of the Huskers’ 12 games and averaged under 3 points.

Northwestern joins poll

It usually isn’t big news when a team from the Big Ten moves into the Associated Press’ college basketball poll. It is when that team is Northwestern. The Wildcats moved into the poll on Monday at No. 25, their first appearance in the rankings since January 1969.

Women’s college basketball

Stanford No. 2 despite loss

Connecticut showed there’s still a huge gap between its program and the rest of the Top 25.

No. 1 UConn beat second-ranked Stanford by 12 points recently in a game that wasn’t that close, yet Stanford did not slip in this week’s Associated Press poll.

Boxing

Tests ordered for megafight

Las Vegas — The head of the Nevada boxing commission ordered Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to submit to urine tests Monday as a way of trying to break the impasse that has threatened to derail their proposed March 13 megafight.

Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48 hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada Athletic commission.

Skiing

Olympic favorite hurts arm

Lienz, Austria — Vancouver Olympic favorite Lindsey Vonn bruised a bone in her left arm following a crash on the opening run of a World Cup giant slalom on Monday.

Vonn had X-ray and MRI scans at a hospital before returning to the U.S. team hotel with her arm in a splint. According to U.S. team medical director Richard Quincy, the scans showed no fractures, only a bone bruise.

“It’s not a classic broken wrist, but a swelling,” said doctor Eduard Sporer of the Lienz district hospital, who added Vonn might be able to race in today’s slalom. “She’s got a lot of pain now, but if she feels well she could start.”