Now that we have an actual NFL schedule to overanalyze, we also have a whole set of week one game lines to think about way too early, but that’s all part of the fun! It’s a good snapshot to see exactly how the oddsmakers view teams after a busy offseason.
We already knew our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook had both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings with a win total of 8.5 for the 2025 season, and with these two teams matched up in week one in prime time on Monday Night Football, FanDuel set the early line at +1.5 for the Bears with a point total of 45.5.
They view this as a relatively close game, as Chicago’s second-year quarterback Caleb Williams will attempt to execute head coach Ben Johnson’s offense for the first time. The Vikings should have their own second-year quarterback trying to work successfully in his NFL offense for the first time, as J.J. McCarthy seems set to make his debut after missing all of his rookie year with a knee injury.
Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell is 5-1 in his career against the Bears, but that was when he matched wits with Matt Eberflus.
Let’s factor in some of what Ben Johnson did in Detroit when calling plays against Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores. In four games, Johnson’s offense averaged 389 yards per game, with the Lions winning all four, averaging 30.5 points per game. Now, the players in Chicago are certainly different, but the minds behind the offensive and defensive schemes remain.
The Bears lost both matchups last year, but rookie QB Caleb Williams wasn’t put in a blender as so many young quarterbacks are when facing a Flores defense. In his two games, Williams completed 64.1% of his passes for 531 yards, three touchdowns, and a passer rating of 96.7. He was also pressured a lot by Flores’ blitz packages, and he was sacked five times.
The Bears made a concerted effort to improve the pass protection, not only by bolstering the trenches but also by hiring a play caller who can put his quarterback in situations with hot reads and blitz beaters.
I know it’s early, but give me the Bears to win, to cover the 1.5 spread, and for the over to hit.