Game Details
Kickoff: 8:15 PM ET (7:15 PM CT / 5:15 PM PT)
Venue: Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Surface: Natural Grass
Broadcast: ESPN / ABC (also streaming on Fubo)
Weather: ~70°F at kickoff, light winds ~4 mph, ~68% chance of rain — slick field conditions possible, favoring run games and short passing early
Injury Report
Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy (QB) – Healthy; making NFL debut after injury-delayed preseason
Justin Jefferson (WR) – Healthy; expected to be primary target
No major injuries to starting OL after offseason upgrades (Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Donovan Jackson)
Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams (QB) – Healthy; Year 2 starter, 0‑2 career vs Minnesota
No major skill-position injuries; OL revamped in offseason to protect Williams
Defensive front intact, led by Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter Sr.
Team Records & Recent Form
2024 Recap:
Vikings: 11‑6, NFC Wild Card; swept Bears in regular season (30‑27 OT, 30‑12 MNF)
Bears: 6‑11, last in NFC North; offense inconsistent, OL struggled early
Offseason Changes:
Vikings: Upgraded OL, retained core defense, drafted McCarthy to replace Kirk Cousins
Bears: Hired HC Ben Johnson (ex‑Lions OC), rebuilt OL, added depth at WR and RB
Series History: Vikings lead all‑time 68‑57‑2; Bears won only postseason meeting (1994 Wild Card)
Betting Trends
Vikings 4‑0 SU in last 4 vs Bears
Bears 1‑5 ATS in last 6 home games vs NFC North
Under has hit in 4 of last 6 meetings
Vikings 5‑1 ATS in last 6 season openers
VIKINGS NOTES:
• QB J.J. McCARTHY can become 5th QB since 1990 to make 1st career start on Monday in Week 1. • RB AARON JONES totaled 1,546 scrimmage yards (career-high 1,138 rush, 408 rec.) & 7 TDs (5 rush, 2 rec.) in 2024. Has 1,232 scrimmage yards (82.1 per game) & 13 TDs (9 rush, 4 rec.) in 15 career games vs. Chi. Has 618 scrimmage yards (123.6 per game) & 9 TDs (5 rec., 4 rush) in his past 5 on Monday & aims for his 6th in row on Monday with 100+ scrimmage yards & TD. • WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON had 103 catches for 1,533 yards & 10 TDs in 2024, 2nd-most rec. yards in NFL last season. Has 7,432 career rec. yards, most by player in 1st 5 seasons all-time. Needs game with 125+ rec. yards to surpass Randy Moss (23) for most such games by player in 1st 6 career seasons. • WR ADAM THIELEN ranks 3rd in Min. history in receptions (534) & rec. TDs (55) & 5th in rec. yards (6,682). • TE T.J. HOCKENSON aims for his 5th in row on MNF with 50+ rec. yards. • LB ANDREW VAN GINKEL set career highs in tackles (79), TFL (18), sacks (11.5) & INT-TDs (2) in 2024. Was 1 of 3 (Myles Garrett & T.J. Watt) with 6 games with 2+ TFL last season. • LB JONATHAN GREENARD set career highs with 59 tackles, 18 TFL & 4 FFs & had 12 sacks last season. Had 3 sacks, 5 TFL & 2 FFs in 2 games vs. Chi. in 2024. • LB BLAKE CASHMAN set career highs in tackles (111), PD (8) & sacks (4.5) & had 8 TFL last season. • DL JONATHAN ALLEN & DL JAVON HARGRAVE make Min. debuts. • S HARRISON SMITH is 1 of 5 since 1982 with 35+ career INTs (37) & 20+ sacks (20.5). Leads all active DBs with 1,117 tackles & is only DB with 75+ tackles in each of past 9 seasons. • S JOSH METELLUS is 1 of 4 DBs (Jessie Bates, Kevin Byard & Julian Love) with 100+ tackles in each of past 2 seasons.
BEARS NOTES:
• QB CALEB WILLIAMS ranked 3rd among rookies in pass yards (3,541) & pass TDs (20) in 2024. Passed for 340 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 103.1 rating in last home meeting. • RB D’ANDRE SWIFT had career-high 1,345 scrimmage yards (959 rush, 386 rec.) & 6 rush TDs in 2024. Has 75+ scrimmage yards in each of his 6 career Monday games. • WR DJ MOORE had career-high 98 catches for 966 yards & 6 TDs last season, incl. 6+ catches in each of his final 8 games. Had 7 catches for 106 yards & rec. TD in last home meeting. • WR ROME ODUNZE ranked 6th among rookies with 734 rec. yards in 2024. • WR LUTHER BURDEN was selected in 2nd round (No. 39 overall) in 2025 NFL Draft. • TE COLSTON LOVELAND was selected No. 10 overall in 2025 NFL Draft. • DE MONTEZ SWEAT has 5+ sacks in each of past 6 seasons. Aims for his 6th in row on Monday with TFL. • DL GRADY JARRETT makes Chi. debut. Had 77 TFL & 36.5 sacks in 152 games (2015-24) with Atl. • DL DAYO ODEYINGBO makes Chi. debut. Has 16.5 sacks & 21 TFL in 61 games (2021-24) with Ind. • LB TREMAINE EDMUNDS is 1 of 6 with 100+ tackles in each of past 7 seasons. Since 2018, is 1 of 2 LBs (Fred Warner) with 50+ PD (50). • LB T.J. EDWARDS set career highs with 12 TFL & 4 sacks last season. Is 1 of 4 with 125+ tackles in each of past 4 seasons. • DB KEVIN BYARD ranked 3rd among DBs with career-high 130 tackles in 2024. Is 1 of 2 (Harrison Smith) with 75+ tackles in each of past 8 seasons. • DB JAYLON JOHNSON set career highs with 53 tackles & 7 TFL in 2024. • DB TYRIQUE STEVENSON led team with 12 PD last season & is 1 of 6 with 12+ PD in each of past 2 seasons.
Game Odds
Minnesota Vikings – 1.5
Chicago Bears 44.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, September 6, 2025
