The Minnesota Vikings will play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Monday night at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN. This is the last game of the first Week of the 2025 NFL season. The matchup gives an early look at a division that had three teams make the playoffs last year and seems to be wide open again.
After a redshirt freshman year cut short by a knee injury, Minnesota gives the ball to J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in 2024. Head coach Kevin O’Connell chose not to sign any veterans in free agency and instead continued with his plan to promote McCarthy. McCarthy just played a dozen snaps in the preseason, but he will be taking over a team that finished 14–3 in 2024 and is ready to compete. He will have his first chance to prove that faith on Monday.
The Bears start the Ben Johnson–Caleb Williams partnership in earnest across the field. Williams had a great debut season, throwing 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions and not throwing an interception in 13 games. However, he also took the most sacks in the NFL (68) and had the lowest yards per attempt and completion rate. Chicago signed Johnson, who had just been in charge of Detroit’s fast-paced system, and filled the skill positions with DJ Moore, rookie Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and tight ends Cole Kmet and rookie Colston Loveland to help Williams go up quickly.
It could be decided in the trenches. To fix last year’s protection problems, Chicago changed the interior line by signing center Drew Dalman and trading for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney. Their first job is to stop the Vikings’ front, which had the fourth-most sacks (49) and the fifth-most points allowed in 2024. Edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel will be in charge of this under Brian Flores’ pressure-heavy plans.
Injury reports for the weekend showed that Vikings safety Harrison Smith was dubious because he was sick. Chicago’s linebacker T.J. Edwards was also doubtful because of a hamstring injury, and other of their starters were also questionable. Monday is when the final game statuses will be set.
(With inputs from NFL)
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