Bears vs Vikings Clash in Monday Night Football 2025
It’s Week 1 of the NFL season, and the spotlight is on Monday Night Football where two NFC North rivals are set to collide: the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. Soldier Field will be buzzing as fans pack in for this prime-time showdown, and it’s not just another regular game—it’s a fresh start for both teams with plenty of storylines to follow.
Chicago is coming off a tough 2024 season, finishing at the bottom of the division with a 5–12 record. Meanwhile, the Vikings had one of the best runs in the league, closing last season at 14–3. History has favored Minnesota in this matchup, too. The Vikings have won seven of their last eight meetings with Chicago, including both games last year. That kind of track record puts the Bears in the underdog role tonight, but in football, anything can happen under the lights.
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Both sides will be dealing with some key absences. For Minnesota, veteran safety Harrison Smith has been ruled out due to illness. Chicago, on the other hand, will be without starting linebacker T.J. Edwards, sidelined by a hamstring injury. These changes could shape how each defense responds, especially with new faces stepping into high-pressure roles.
Oddsmakers have the Vikings as slight favorites, listed at just a 1-point edge. The over/under for total points is 43.5, suggesting that this one could either open up offensively or turn into a grind-it-out defensive battle. What adds to the intrigue is the presence of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who’s finally making his first regular-season start for Minnesota after sitting out his rookie campaign with an injury. He won’t have his full receiving corps, with Justin Jefferson still not at 100% and Jordan Addison suspended. That likely means more carries for running backs Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason. Considering Chicago’s defense gave up the fifth-most rushing yards per game last season, Minnesota may try to win this one on the ground.
On the flip side, Chicago has its own reasons for optimism. New head coach Ben Johnson is making his debut tonight, and he has already brought fresh energy to the Bears organization. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will be looking to show off the improvements Chicago made to its offensive line this offseason. With more protection, the Bears are hopeful their young QB can settle in and take control at home. Defensively, Chicago limited opponents to just under 218 passing yards per game last year, so the plan may be to put pressure on McCarthy and test his readiness under Monday night pressure.
As always, the projections from the SportsLine model are being closely watched. This system simulates games thousands of times and has a strong track record with betting predictions. For tonight, the model is leaning toward the game finishing under the total points and suggests that one side of the spread has a nearly 60% chance of hitting.
All the pieces are in place: divisional rivals, a national stage, a rookie quarterback making his debut, and a new head coach eager to prove himself. Whether the Vikings keep their dominance rolling or the Bears flip the script with an upset, fans are in for an electric night of football.
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