Bears vs. Vikings Prediction: Can Bear rattle JJ McCarthy in season opener?

Matt Marton - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 21 hours ago

At long last, the 2025 NFL season is finally here for the Chicago Bears, as they will close out Week 1 with a Monday Night matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. This has been an offseason filled with plenty of anticipation, and rightfully so; however, the expectations for this team are incredibly high, given that it has struggled to win games over the past five seasons.

While playing with high expectations is what every organization strives for, expectations and results are two completely different things, and the Bears know that the results need to start happening; otherwise, it will be more of the same for this organization. What better way to send a message that this season will be different than by taking on one of your divisional rivals on Monday night as the Bears and Vikings get ready to tussle.

This is one of those games where there will be some rough football early on, knowing that it is the first game following the preseason. However, as the game progresses, you should see both sides start to settle in. Here are some things to look for and predictions ahead of week one.

A new era of Bears football

We have said this many times in the past decade, but this season truly marks the beginning of a new era in Bears football. Unlike the head coaches of the past, Ben Johnson is the one that everyone, including the fans, wanted, and now that he is here, it seems like a match made in heaven.

Not only that, but Johnson had so much respect around the league that he was able to put an elite staff together, including long-time defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who could be viewed as the most critical addition to this coaching staff. All summer long, we have heard about the attention to detail that Johnson puts forth with his players, and you have seen that during both the preseason and practice. Now it's time for that to carry over to the games that matter.

Get after JJ McCarthy

Although not technically a rookie, as he was drafted in 2024, JJ McCarthy is considered a rookie by NFL standards, as he will be making his first career start tonight after missing the entire 2024 season with a knee injury. The 22-year-old is still the youngest quarterback in the league, and although the Vikings have complete confidence in him, there are still plenty of questions about how good he will or can be.

The best way to get into a young quarterback's head is to rattle him early and often and try to force him out of his game. Getting pressure on him as quickly as possible will be the best way to do that, as McCarthy has never been asked to carry a team with his arm before, especially not when he was at Michigan. Should the Bears get the Vikings in a hole early, McCarthy may be forced to beat Chicago with his arm, and until you see that happen, that is the position you want him to be in.

Time to make a statement

A win is a win in the NFL, but winning on Monday night football against a team that was 14-3 last season would be the perfect way to begin your coaching career. In fact, a win over the Vikings would be the statement win this team needs, as they haven't been able to beat the elite teams in this division since 2018.

Yes, this may only be the first game of the season. Both teams will look much different when they play a second time this season, but to get a win this early in the year against a quality opponent could catapult this team for the remainder of the season, as this could be the statement win they need to set the tone for what is expected to be a great season.

Prediction: Bears 21 - Vikings 16

There is no question that this will be an old-fashioned Black and Blue game, as both teams are hungry to secure their first win of the season. Playing in the NFC North comes with physicality, as these are two of the more physical franchises in the game and have shown that for a long time.

Ultimately, this will come down to which defense can make the most plays, as both defenses are expected to be top-10 this season. While the Vikings may have more defensive talent across the board, the Bears aren't far behind, but what they do have is an experienced defensive coordinator who knows how to make life miserable for young quarterbacks. That alone will be the key, as the Bears rattle McCarthy enough to force a few turnovers, including a late-game turnover, to seal the deal.