Two NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears, open up Monday Night Football in Chicago.
The Bears will have all eyes on both Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. However, what might make this game interesting is the relationship between Williams and Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy. They have known each other since high school, and they were both selected by their respective teams in the 2024 NFL draft. However, this will be the first time McCarthy will take the field as the starter, having sat behind Sam Darnold last season.
Monday’s game will be the 19th meeting between the teams on Monday Night Football (MNF), and Minnesota holds a 10-8 record for those games. Additionally, the Vikings have won seven of the past eight matchups against Chicago. So Bears fans will be waiting to see if the Johnson/Williams combination on offense will help garner a victory. It will be interesting to see if Johnson can succeed without the offensive talent he had with the Detroit Lions.
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Game Info
Date: Monday, Sept. 8
Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Stadium: Soldier Field
TV Info: ABC, ESPN
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings.
Point Spread
Vikings -1.5(-108)
Bears +1.5(-112)
Moneyline
Vikings -122
Bears +102
Over/Under
Vikings 43.5(-115)
Bears 43.5(-105)
Minnesota is the favorite, given their record, not just against the Bears, but overall for the past few seasons. It will be interesting to see who will want to take a chance on the Bears.
What To Watch For
Fans will want to pay attention to the performances of Williams and McCarthy. Has Williams improved under the guidance of Johnson? Will McCarthy show everyone how great a quarterback he can be at the starting position? In addition to giving Williams support, we’ll get to see his plans for the offense go up against the Vikings’ defense. Don’t forget about D.J. Moore. Last season, he had 98 receptions for 966 yards and six touchdowns.
The Vikings boast a talented offense, featuring players like Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, and Jordan Mason. Don’t forget about T.J. Hockenson as well. On paper, the Vikings have the advantage. The Bears will show us how well they have, or have not, adjusted in the offseason to the plans Dennis Allen created.
With the stage set for MNF, this game will come down to which team can control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. However, each team’s offense, for various reasons, will be what fans and viewers alike will be tuning in to see.
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
