Both looking to stay unbeaten, the Chicago Bears (1-0) and the Minnesota Vikings (1-0) will ride red-hot offensive momentum into their Week 2 NFC North clash at Soldier Field. The Bears are on the heels of a 59-point outburst against the Carolina Panthers, while quarterback Carson Wentz managed to lead the Vikings to a 39-22 win over the Green Bay Packers after a concussion to starter Kyler Murray.
The NFC North might be putting up some crooked numbers in 2026. The question is whether we can expect the trend to continue -- and if so, for how long. The Bears and Panthers weren't exactly stalwarts against the Panthers and Packers, respectively, in Week 1, but those are both teams with legitimate offensive threats. Oddsmakers see this one coming
in well under 50 points, with most books settling at 48.5 for a total. Chicago is favored rather heavily here, especially for an early, intra-division matchup, and the spread is closer to a touchdown than a field goal. History suggests there's a good chance it could stay on the closer side, but Caleb Williams and Co. might legitimately be one of the top offenses in the NFL.
And then there's Murray (or Wentz), whose pairing with Justin Jefferson shouldn't be discounted so soon. Major NFC North momentum is on the line when these two titans clash at Soldier Field.
Bears vs Vikings odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Bears -3.5
- Moneyline: Bears -198; Vikings +164
- Total: 45.5
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Vikings at Bears score predictions
Adam Kaufman: Bears 31, Vikings 24
After a 59-point debut, I'm not sure I'll predict the Bears to finish below 30 in a game all season. But, with that defense, there's a legitimate question about how many points Chicago will surrender each week. Caleb Williams should have a tougher time against a Brian Flores defense that blitzed Green Bay on 78.3% of its plays. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai don't project to run as wild against Minnesota, either, but the Bears will still find their way into the end zone often. With Carson Wentz expected to start, he and Justin Jefferson should continue connecting in big moments. Frankly, I'm more confident in Wentz right now than I would be if Kyler Murray returned from his concussion. Either way, I like the Bears. And I certainly like the over.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bears 27, Vikings 23
Brian Flores surely won't allow Ben Johnson's group to maintain an offensive pace that would fulfill the coach's vision of orchestrating the highest-scoring offense in league history. But after putting together a blitz-heavy masterclass against the overwhelmed Packers, will the Vikings defensive coordinator have another ace up his sleeve against his division rival? Ultimately, the ask might be too great for Minnesota's defensive line to bottle up Chicago's dynamic and explosive run game to force the obvious passing downs that would allow Flores to fully unleash his fury.
Nate Davis: Bears 30, Vikings 27
Another game where the Vikings' opaque QB situation makes it hard to make an informed decision at this point of the week. QB2 Carson Wentz seems to the pragmatic choice based on how he played in Sunday's win, but if Kyler Murray (concussion) is healthy enough to play, Kevin O'Connell and Co. need to find out sooner than later if he's worthy of a long-term investment. And while some might want to dismiss the Vikes in the face of Chicago's imposing offense, it should be noted that these teams split last year's series with the Bears outscoring Minnesota by a collective 44-43 … But losing the contest at Soldier Field. Still, we'll ride with the Monsters.
Richard Morin: Vikings 26, Bears 23
OK, I guess I'm all in on Carson Wentz for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Where to watch Vikings at Bears
- Matchup: Bears vs. Vikings
- Date: Sept. 20
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
- Venue: Soldier Field
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- TV: Fox
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vikings at Bears: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 2 game
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