ClutchPoints
The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears meet in the opening Monday Night Football game of the season and both teams have undergone major changes since the end of last season.
The Vikings had a memorable 2024 season, finishing with a 14-3 record and the most wins of any team that did not win a division title. The Vikings had a chance to earn the top seed in the NFC and win the NFC North title when they went to Detroit for the final game of the regular season, but they fell short and had to settle for a Wild Card spot.
After losing to the Lions, the Vikings had little left in the tank when they played the Los Angeles Rams on the road in the postseason and they were eliminated quickly. Their dreams of a championship disappeared into the ether.
The Vikings said goodbye to surprising quarterback Sam Darnold in the offseason even though he was brilliant for the majority of the season. Head coach Kevin O’Connell, perhaps the NFL’s most noted QB whisperer, wanted to make the bold move of turning the QB1 position to J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings also fortified their offensive line by signing center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries as free agents.
The Bears are coming off a 5-12 season that saw them finish in last place in the NFC North. Despite the presence of No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams, the Bears simply made too many mistakes and let multiple opportunities slip through their grasp a year ago.
As a result of that disappointment, the Bears hired Ben Johnson away from the Detroit Lions to tutor Williams and get the most out of him. The former Lions offensive coordinator is one of the most creative game planners in the NFL and he has run a demanding training camp.
The Bears will find out if Johnson, Williams and the Bears offense have advanced enough to gain footing in the NFL’s toughest division.
Here are 3 bold predictions for the game between the Vikings and the Bears in Week 1 as well as a forecast on the outcome of the game.
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McCarthy would not have ascended to his position if O’Connell had any doubts about his ability level. The quarterback led Michigan to the national championship in 2023 and was the No. 10 pick in last year’s draft. The Vikings were planning to work him into the lineup during his rookie season, but those plans blew up when McCarthy suffered a meniscus injury in the first preseason game and was lost for the season.
He had surgery and rehabbed last year and he appears to be ready to start the season. Perhaps the reason for that is his crew of receivers. Justin Jefferson is arguably the No. 1 receiver in the NFL and...
