Ben Johnson will be making his Chicago Bears head coaching debut on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. The NFL oddsmakers are predicting a close knit battle between the two division foes.
While it’s just the first game of the year, Week 1 will set the tone for both franchises. The Bears want to prove they’re ready to compete in the NFC North while the Vikings don’t plan on giving up their playoff spot. A victory on either side would show every team in the conference exactly what Chicago or Minnesota is made out of.
There is still plenty of time before the opening week and both team’s rosters are sure to go through numerous changes. But as it stands, the Bears are listed as +1.5 point underdogs, via FanDuel Sportsbook. Still, both Chicago (-106) and Minnesota (-110) are evenly matched on the Moneyline, showing how close Vegas expects the matchup to be.
Chicago Bears, Vikings first face off of 2025
The Vikings swept the season series against the Bears in 2024, however the two matchups told completely different stories. In their Week 12 matchup in Chicago, Minnesota came away with a 30-27 overtime victory. The Bears fought until the very end as Caleb Williams had one of the best games of his rookie season.
Caleb Williams the last time he played the Vikings at home:
🎯 32/47 (103.1 RTG)
🔥 340 Passing Yards
🏈 2 Touchdowns #Bears vs #Vikings | MNF | Sept 8thpic.twitter.com/idOJRSIGsH— SleeperBears (@SleeperBears) May 14, 2025
However, back in Minnesota for Week 12, the Vikings cruised to a 30-12 victory. Williams threw for 191 yards and a touchdown, but the Bears didn’t bring that same fire, as the Vikings held a 20-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
Their Week 1 matchup will look a lot different on both sides of the ball. The Vikings are trusting JJ McCarthy to be their new starting quarterback. His rookie season was completely wiped out due to a meniscus tear. McCarthy has plenty of potential after going No. 10 overall in 2024, but he’ll be making his NFL debut against the Bears, leading to plenty of question marks.
For Chicago, the franchise’s success hinges on Williams’ pairing with new head coach Ben Johnson. The quarterback struggled to reach his true No. 1 pick ceiling as a rookie. At the same time, Johnson was helping Jared Goff become an offensive dynamo with the Detroit Lions. If Johnson can help Williams become the franchise star the Bears think he can be, then the sky is the limit in the Windy City.
Week 1 won’t be the be all end all for either time, but it’ll be one of the most important games of their season. Playing in primetime, everyone in the NFL world will be watching their matchup. For both teams, first impressions matter.
If McCarthy falls flat on his face, Vikings fans will be up in arms. The same can be said for the Bears if they see another lifeless game on offense. But if McCarthy shines, Minnesota will have found their quarterback of the present and future. If Johnson’s explosive offensive immediate makes it mark on the Bears, the offseason buzz will only grow louder into the regular season.
Both the Vikings and Bears have plenty to prove as they attempt to ascend the NFC North mountain. Week 1 gives them their first opportunity to stake their claim.
Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams knew Ryan Poles set him up to fail, wanted drafted by Vikings
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