4 Storylines for the Vikings’ Week 1 Clash
The NFL released Minnesota’s schedule for the 2025 season. They will play seven standalone games, indicating that the NFL thinks highly of this year’s version of the purple organization. In Week 1, the Vikings will face the Chicago Bears in a Monday Night Football showdown.
4 Storylines for the Vikings’ Week 1 Game
That game includes some massive storylines that certainly make it an intriguing one.
Caleb, the Viking
Let’s start with the newest item. On Thursday, ESPN released an article reporting that Caleb Williams, Chicago’s next attempt at fining a franchise quarterback, actually wanted to go to Minnesota in the 2024 draft.
He and his family considered pulling an Eli Manning to somehow land in Minnesota, or anywhere else not named Chicago. The Bears ultimately drafted him anyway. He’s 0-2 against the Vikings, and his rookie season was a normal rookie campaign with many ups and downs. The organization’s dysfunction didn’t help him thrive by any means.
The Bears poured more resources into Caleb’s supporting cast, attempting to fix the offensive line, adding another weapon or two, and, probably most significantly, hired an offensive-minded head coach.
Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores
That man’s name is Ben Johnson, previously of the Detroit Lions. During his tenure with Detroit, he dominated Brian Flores and his Vikings defense to a point where he might be one of Flores’ few kryptonites.
In the last two seasons, the Vikings allowed 30 points seven times. Four of those were handed to them by Johnson’s Lions.
He surely wants to get off to a hot start like Kevin O’Connell when he defeated the Packers in his first game as the Vikings’ head coach. He had impressive personnel in Detroit with an elite offensive line, a solid veteran quarterback, a dynamic running back duo, a pair of excellent receivers, and a sweet tight end.
It might take some time for him and his new team to gel, but it’s a great test for both Flores, who needs to find an answer for Johnson’s scheme, and for Johnson, who wants to continue his run against Miami’s former head coach.
J.J. McCarthy’s First NFL Action
It will not only be Johnson’s NFL debut as a head coach, but also J.J. McCarthy’s first NFL action. We’ve only seen him play in a preseason game, in which he suffered his meniscus tear that cost him his rookie campaign.
Now, however, he is cleared for football activities and is already preparing for the upcoming NFL season. McCarthy has impressed teammates and coaches with his work ethic and willingness to learn and improve.
He has the mental skills and physical tools to be the long-term answer at the quarterback position in Minnesota. His first test against the Bears will be a tough one, considering Chicago’s excellent secondary, but O’Connell and Justin Jefferson will try to help him get off to a good start.
Divisional Bout
Of course, nothing beats a divisional showdown. They just mean more. The Vikings have recently dominated the Bears, winning seven of the last eight, with the only outlier being Josh Dobbs’ primetime defeat.
All-time, the Vikings lead the series 68-58-2.
Last season, the Bears got spanked 30-12 in December, and the Vikings won in overtime after blowing a big fourth-quarter lead in November. The purple franchise hopes to extend the all-time lead.
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