The Minnesota Vikings take on the Chicago Bears in a week 1 NFC North rivalry game!
The curtain is set to come down on week 1 of the 2025-26 NFL season with the first Monday Night Football (MNF) game featuring NFC North rivals, the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings.
This will be an intriguing matchup between two second-year starting quarterbacks, Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy, although, in theory, this will be McCarthy’s first year under center, having missed his entire rookie season due to injury.
| Recommended Bets | FanDuel | BetMGM |
|---|---|---|
| Caleb Williams 225+ passing yards | +102 | +120 |
| Justin Jefferson 70+ receiving yards | -114 | -156 |
| Chicago Bears to win the game | +108 | +105 |
Also Read: Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings Injury Report for Week 1 of the 2025-26 NFL Season
As for the bets, Caleb Williams throwing for over 225 yards seems plausible. Williams already has a year of professional football under his belt, and his pass-catchers include D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and rookie tight end Colston Loveland.
Moore is the veteran on the team and is expected to shoulder more responsibility, but Williams has also developed good chemistry with Odunze. Loveland is one of the top tight ends from this draft class. Moreover, Chicago has invested heavily in rebuilding its offensive line, which should provide the 23-year-old plenty of time to throw the ball.
Secondly, taking Justin Jefferson for 70+ receiving yards also seems like a good bet considering his number two, Jordan Adisson, will miss the first three games due to suspension. That means McCarthy will be looking at Jefferson for most of the big plays.
Finally, the Bears winning this game is certainly possible despite them being underdogs by 2.5 points. Chicago has put together a strong offensive unit, while the defense has the ability to limit Minnesota’s already depleted offense. Furthermore, Ben Johnson’s playcalling should enhance the offensive side for the Bears as well.
The Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings will renew their annual rivalry with their first divisional game of the year at Soldier Field, Chicago. Both teams have done well in the offseason, but the Bears’ fixing their woeful offensive line will be worth keeping an eye out for.
Last season, the Bears finished last in the NFC North after starting with promise. But with new head coach, Ben Johnson, there is plenty of optimism once again amongst the Bears’ faithful.
For Minnesota, it will be a crucial first few weeks with McCarthy under center. The Vikings nearly won the NFC North last season, but for the loss in the final week of the 2024 campaign. However, it is worth seeing just how comfortable McCarthy feels in his first professional game in the NFL, particularly with the absence of receiving talent Jordan Addison.
Below are some of the best player bets for the Chicago Bears as sourced from FanDuel.
| Over/ Under Bets | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|
| Caleb Williams passing completions | 218.5 (-114) | 218.5 (-114) |
| Colston Loveland 28.5 receiving yards | -114 | -114 |
| D’Andre Swift rushing attempts | 13.5 (-130) | 13.5 (-102) |
Below are some of the best player bets for the Chicago Bears as sourced from FanDuel.
Here is a look at the over/under and player bets for the Minnesota Vikings as per FanDuel.
| Over/ Under Bets | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|
| J.J. McCarthy passing touchdowns | 1.5 (+116) | 1.5 (-154) |
| Jalen Nailor receiving yards | 18.5 (-114) | 18.5 (-114) |
| Aaron Jones rushing attempts | 12.5 (+102) | 12.5 (-136) |
Below are some of the best player bets for the Minnesota Vikings as sourced from FanDuel.
The Bears will start their season at home against a Vikings team without their second-best receiver. Granted, Minnesota still has plenty of other options to hurt Chicago, but the chemistry between McCarthy and Adam Thielen could take time to flourish since Thielen only recently returned to the team.
Ben Johnson has had a full offseason to prepare Caleb Williams ahead of his second season. Although there were ups and downs in training camp, the general idea is that this should be a revamped offensive unit.
Prediction: Chicago Bears to win the game.
The moneyline and spread show the Minnesota Vikings are the favorites in this matchup against the Chicago Bears, as sourced from FanDuel.
| Moneyline | Spread | Total Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | +108 | +2.5 (-115) | Over 43.5 (-110) |
| Minnesota Vikings | -126 | -2.5 (-105) | Under 43.5 (-110) |
The above odds are sourced from FanDuel. Use FanDuel to ace your betting game in all sports!
The total over/under for the Bears vs the Vikings game is set to 43.5.
The Minnesota Vikings are favored to win the game at -126, while the Chicago Bears are underdogs at +108.
With Jordan Addison out of the game due to suspension, Justin Jefferson should be tasked with the lion’s share of the receiving workload.
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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