The Chicago Bears will battle the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Evening Soccer as they kick off their 2025 season, the place they’re trying to get a win because the Ben Johnson period will get underway.
The Bears are coming off a disappointing 5-12 marketing campaign, which included a 10-game shedding streak, in-season head teaching firing and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams getting sacked a league-high 68 occasions. However it additionally performed a key function of their offseason overhaul. In the meantime, the Vikings are coming off a powerful 14-3 season, the place they completed with the second-best file within the league en path to the postseason (though that they had an early playoff exit) and can usher in a brand new beginning quarterback in J.J. McCarthy.
Because the season will get underway, listed here are 4 key matchups to look at because the Bears battle the Vikings on Monday Evening Soccer:
Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores
The following nice chapter within the Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores kicks off on Monday night time, the place Johnson is trying to proceed his dominance in a brand new place. Johnson and Flores have met 4 occasions throughout their time with the Detroit Lions and Vikings, the place Johnson has gone 4-0. In these 4 video games, the Lions averaged 31 factors per sport. Now, Johnson is trying to proceed that streak as head coach of the Bears. However it will not be simple in opposition to a dominant protection and inventive defensive thoughts like Flores as Chicago performs their first regular-season sport on this new offense. Johnson will look to get quarterback Caleb Williams into an early rhythm, set up the run and he’ll must take care of Minnesota’s go rush amid questions at left deal with.
Bears go rush vs. Vikings tackles
Chicago will face a first-time beginning quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, which ought to give them a bonus. However their go rush, which stays the most important concern on protection, must step up and discover a method to generate stress on the second-year QB. The Vikings have a stable deal with duo with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, which places the stress on Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo to win their one-on-one battles. The Bears may catch a break if Darrisaw, who’s been battling a knee harm, would not swimsuit up at left deal with. However he seems poised for a Week 1 begin. Sweat, coming off a down season, must step up as he goes in opposition to O’Neill whereas Odeyingbo will face a tall order in opposition to Darrisaw.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson vs. Bears CB Jaylon Johnson
Two of the sport’s largest stars on this sport — Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson — are a bit banged up. The expectation is Dennis Allen can have Johnson shadow the crew’s high wideout all sport, which ought to make for some intriguing one-on-one battles between these two Professional Bowlers. Jefferson has been battling a hamstring harm, however he averted the harm report this week. In the meantime, Johnson suffered a groin harm that held him out the complete summer season, however he is working towards a Week 1 return. However, assuming they each play, this will likely be one heck of a matchup to look at.
Vikings go rush vs. Bears tackles
The Bears overhauled their complete inside offensive line this offseason with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, in addition to heart Drew Dalman. However the largest check will come off the sting with the Vikings go rush, most notably the matchup between Bears left deal with Braxton Jones and Vikings defensive finish Jonathan Greenard. Whereas proper deal with Darnell Wright, getting into his third season, has been stable in go safety, Jones is the most important query mark alongside this offensive line. He is recovering from a fractured ankle and hasn’t appeared 100%, however it was nonetheless sufficient to win the beginning left deal with job. Sadly, his first check this season will not be a straightforward one.
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