Vikings spoil Ben Johnson’s Bears debut on ‘MNF’
One other primetime NFL recreation, one other unimaginable comeback.
The Minnesota Vikings capped Week 1 of the 2025 common season with a 27-24 come-from-behind win over the Chicago Bears.
Listed here are our takeaways from a Monday evening stunner.
Knee-jerk response: Totally different coach, usual Chicago Bears
It solely took one recreation for Ben Johnson to get the total Bears expertise. What regarded like a celebratory first recreation as head coach as a substitute regarded like lots of different Bears video games through the years, with a promising defensive effort overshadowed by offensive ineptitude.
After scoring an opening-drive landing, Chicago’s offense was held to a few factors the remainder of the sport, with the crew’s lone different landing approaching a Nahshon Wright pick-six.
The protection performed excellent till the fourth quarter, when it allowed three Vikings touchdowns, unable to make up for the offense’s shortcomings.
Quarterback Caleb Williams acquired worse as the sport went alongside, continuously lacking the equal of straightforward layups, taking sacks and getting flagged for intentional grounding. He completed 21-of-35 for 210 yards and one landing, displaying the identical irritating inconsistencies that hampered his rookie season.
Johnson might nonetheless have a profitable first season, however Week 1 revealed he would not simply have the deep NFC North to take care of. He additionally should exorcise the Bears’ demons.
Sport MVP: Minnesota Vikings working again Jordan Mason
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s exceptional comeback after a horrendous begin will get a lot of the headlines, however Minnesota would not have accomplished its comeback with out 2025 free-agent signing Jordan Mason’s contributions.
The previous San Francisco 49ers again led the Vikings on the bottom, ending with 15 carries for 68 yards (4.5 yards per carry). Mason did nearly all of his injury within the fourth as Minnesota mounted its comeback, gaining 53 yards on 9 carries through the closing body
However as phenomenal as he was working the ball, his finest play might need been one that did not present up on the stat sheet. Mason had a key block in cross safety on the Vikings’ first fourth-quarter landing, which minimize the Bears’ result in 17-12, choosing up blitzing linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Noah Sewell and giving McCarthy time to search out two-time All-Professional huge receiver Justin Jefferson in the long run zone.
