The Vikings at Bears in Week 1: A Dozen Rapid-Fire Points, Thoughts, and Facts
The Vikings at Bears in Week 1 promises to be one of the more fascinating games to open the NFL regular season.
No shortage of stories have been attached to the game. The NFC North foes are doing battle in prime time. Each is starting a top-ten passer from the 2024 NFL Draft. When we dig down a bit further, though, what are we going to see? Consider some points, thoughts, and facts before the game gets going.
Vikings at Bears in a Dozen Separate Points
1 | Brian Flores vs. Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson had the upper hand when he was the Lions’ OC. Is that still the case now that he’s the Bears’ HC?
Brian Flores is a smart, creative coach, one who isn’t easily defeated. A major part of the issue for Coach Flores is that he sometimes didn’t get a ton of help from his offense when battling Detroit in the past, creating a scenario where the Vikings’ poor offense failed to possess the ball and failed to score ample points.
Nevertheless, Brian Flores would insist that his unit needs to be better. The MNF game is going to be a battle between two of the game’s most creative strategists.
2 | Donovan Jackson Pushing for Quiet Excellence
More often than not, offensive linemen want to fly under the radar. One assumes Donovan Jackson is no different.
Chicago’s defense is better than a lot of people realize. The Bears are going to be a true test for the Kevin O’Connell offense, especially given the injury concerns alongside the suspension to Jordan Addison. What would make a lot of the anxiety disappear is a formidable front five, a crew that keeps J.J. McCarthy’s jersey clean.
3 | Dallas Turner Looking to Explode
Not just sacks. Instead, be someone who collapses the pocket. Lay a hit on the passer with consistency. Move up and down the line. Swat down a pass at the line of scrimmage. Be a nightmare when partnered with all of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Blake Cashman, and Ivan Pace. Give Chicago the kind of pressure problem that their protection can’t solve.
4 | Time for Myles Price (and Adam Thielen)
Watch Myles Price and the basic idea shines through: the rookie UDFA is a natural when it comes to catching the ball. Obviously someone who is very gifted, Price has a work ethic and is a stronger runner than many realize.
Not ruling it out that he has an explosive play in his first ever NFL game. One other thing to monitor: does Adam Thielen see any work returning the ball?
5 | Will Reichard in a Tough Environment
No one thinks that being an NFL kicker is easy. Regardless, one can’t help but think that Will Reichard is stepping into a tough situation.
Start off with the simple reality of playing under the bright lights. Do so against a divisional foe and from within a roster context where the sophomore QB needs all the help he can get. Now toss on the fact that the game takes place outdoors and there are rumblings of possible field issues.
Can Will Reichard nevertheless have a flawless day? If so, Minnesota will be sitting in a much better position.
6 | Confusing Caleb
In theory, it’s not difficult to make a fast player play more slowly. Just confuse him.
Brian Flores will be looking to do so throughout Monday night. Disguise coverages and mix up who is coming with pressure. Doing so effectively will lead to Williams struggling to get the ball out of his hands with rhythm. The Vikings, in turn, will have success when taking him down for a sack.
7 | Beware of D.J. Moore
Coming in at a sturdy 6’0″ and 213 pounds, D.J. Moore is a solid WR1. Were the NFC North to assemble a top trio of receivers, Justin Jefferson would be the top option and then it would be Amon-Ra St. Brown. Next up? Gotta be Moore.
He’s coming off a season where he had 98 receptions go for 966 yards and 6 scores. The year prior, Moore found himself at 96 catches for 1,364 yards and 8 scores. He’s a very good player, someone who seems likely to be more explosive than last year. Indeed, his YPC average should come in closer to the 2023 number (14.2) than the 2024 number (9.9).
He is 28.
8 | Corral the Running QB
I don’t think of Mr. Williams as being a running quarterback. The basic stats nevertheless point toward someone who can do damage with his legs.
As a rookie, Caleb Williams had 81 carries for 489 yards. He didn’t bring the ball across the goal line with his legs but he was sitting at a very healthy 6.0 yards-per-carry average. Plus, he can be quite elusive while keeping his eyes downfield, possessing a bit of Patrick Mahomes magic. Partnering the tremendously talented Williams with Johnson is a scary thought, especially if the Bears’ young arm keeps doing damage with his legs.
9 | Ryan Poles vs. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Chicago hired Ryan Poles in 2022. Minnesota hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in 2022. Neither has proven to be the league’s best GM but both have had their strong moments. I believe Adofo-Mensah is better, but the way these teams perform is going to determine how people assess these executives. Don’t forget that Poles pursued a true rebuild whereas Adofo-Mensah ventured into his false-dichotomy-defying competitive rebuild.
10 | UDFA Time
At no point in the UDFA process are the Vikings a shy team. The draft concludes and money gets sent out in a hurry. Roster cuts arrive and plenty make the team.
Going into 2025, Minnesota sees a whopping seven undrafted players on the team. Most are playing minor roles, but they’re going to factor into the outcome of the game. There’s simply no way to have so much undrafted talent and not lean on them. Can Austin Keys make a great tackle on specials? Can Chaz Chambliss jump into a few snaps for Flores? Can Ben Yurosek toss up quality blocks?
11 | Vikings in Fantasy Land
Presumably, almost everyone’s fantasy drafts have been completed. A completely personal list of the team’s most promising fantasy players in Week 1 (assuming PPR settings):
- Justin Jefferson, WR
- T.J. Hockenson, TE
- Jordan Mason, RB
- Aaron Jones, RB
- Adam Thielen, WR
12 | Vikings Have History Helping
In the game itself, the all-time record will make zero difference. Nevertheless, the basic factoid: the Vikings are 68-57-2 when taking on the Bears.
The Vikings at Bears game begins at 7:15 p.m. CT on Monday, September 8th.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and StatMuse helped with this piece.
