One other primetime NFL recreation, another incredible 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 night time stunner.
Knee-jerk response: Completely different coach, standard Chicago Bears
It solely took one recreation for Ben Johnson to get the total Bears expertise. What seemed like a celebratory first recreation as head coach as a substitute seemed like quite a lot of different Bears video games over time, with a promising defensive effort overshadowed by offensive ineptitude.
After scoring an opening-drive landing, Chicago’s offense was held to 3 factors the remainder of the sport, with the group’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 may nonetheless have a profitable first season, however Week 1 revealed he does not simply have the deep NFC North to take care of. He additionally should exorcise the Bears’ demons.
Recreation MVP: Minnesota Vikings working again Jordan Mason
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s exceptional comeback after a horrendous begin will get many 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 the vast majority of his harm within the fourth as Minnesota mounted its comeback, gaining 53 yards on 9 carries throughout the ultimate 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 move 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 broad receiver Justin Jefferson ultimately zone.
