Chicago scored 59 points against Carolina; Minnesota scored 39 against Green Bay. Both teams are 1-0 with plenty of room to improve on the defensive side. The offensive performances were considerably less alike. The Vikings averaged 3.9 yards per play and benefited from short fields, and got plenty lucky on the business end of a Packers implosion after Carson Wentz had to take over at quarterback. For the Bears, Caleb Williams completed 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and added two rushing touchdowns, and looked every bit the MVP we all think he may become. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for this week’s NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Bears vs. Vikings prediction, preview
Brian Flores’ defense allowed the fourth-fewest adjusted yards before contact last season, according to Fantasy Points. Swift managed 143 yards on 38 carries in the two meetings between these two teams, and Green Bay’s MarShawn Lloyd opened this season with 37 on 13 against Minnesota. Chicago will most certainly face far more consequential passing downs far more frequently this week.
Williams has averaged 6.4 yards per attempt across four meetings with Flores, completing 60% of his passes. And he’s actually been more productive when Minnesota blitzes. Flores can afford ome patience here: defend the run with his front, disguise the coverage behind it, and make Williams complete several passes per possession. Dial up the stakes, see if this offense can stay explosive. Williams also ran for 65 yards last week. So, most certainly, Flores will need someone accounting for him when receivers are covered and the Vikings are only rushing four.
Minnesota has its own opportunity to keep this thing muddy on the ground, offensively. Chicago allowed 2.68 adjusted yards before contact per carry last season, second most in the league. With Jordan Mason on injured reserve, Aaron Jones is due get almost all the high-value opportunities against that front. DeeJay Dallas will sub in and we may see some Claiborne. But Kevin O’Connell has good reason to keep handing Jones the ball on early downs, make the sticks manageable for Wentz.
That would help Carson Wentz, starting again this week because Kyler Murray remains out with a concussion. Chicago played man coverage on 44.2% of its coverage snaps last week; Wentz has averaged just 4.57 yards per attempt against man since 2025, albeit over 61 dropbacks. Repeated third-and-longs would invite exactly the matchup Minnesota wants to avoid: happy-feet Wentz trying to convert third-and-long. Right tackle Brian O’Neill is also questionable with a knee injury. The Bears are going to try to flood that gap.
Vikings vs. Bears pick, best bet
Wentz does have Justin Jefferson. In their five starts together last season, Jefferson averaged 6.8 catches and 95.4 yards; they connected eight times for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the opener. Another afternoon of feeding Jefferson sounds perfectly reasonable against a Chicago defense that just allowed Bryce Young 361 passing yards.
Williams’ scrambling and Minnesota’s difficulties against Jordan Love, who threw for 387 yards last week, keep me on Chicago outright. But the Bears should have to sustain longer drives, while Jones and Jefferson give Minnesota credible answers against a questionable Bears defense. I expect a competitive fourth quarter. I’ll take Minnesota +4.5 at -102, with room for Chicago to win by a field goal.
Best bet: Vikings +4.5 (-102).
Projected score: Bears 26, Vikings 23.
