The Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears face off on NFL Monday Night Football on September 8. Kickoff for Vikings vs Bears MNF is set for in 8:15 p.m. ET from Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. The game will broadcast on ESPN.
Vikings vs Bears odds have the Vikings as -114 moneyline favorites and the Bears as -106 underdogs. The game total is 43.5. The Vikings are -0.5 favorites on the spread against the Bears.
Let's get into my Vikings vs Bears prediction and pick for Monday Night Football, plus the latest NFL odds, injury reports/inactives, weather report, betting trends and more.
Vikings vs Bears Predictions, Odds, Spread, Moneyline, Over/Under
| Vikings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-0.5 -113 | 43.5 -110o / -110u | -114 |
| Bears Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+0.5 -108 | 43.5 -110o / -110u | -106 |
- Vikings vs Bears Spread: Vikings -0.5 (-113), Bears +0.5 (-108)
- Vikings vs Bears Moneyline: Vikings -114, Bears -106
- Vikings vs Bears Total: 43.5 (-110o / -110u)
Vikings vs Bears Preview, MNF Prediction
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has been a revelation in the passing game, leading his team to top-six finishes in passing yards and passing touchdowns in each of his first three seasons as head coach.
While the Vikings' passing offense may eventually reach those same peaks in 2025, it appears destined to take a back seat to the running game early in the year, for several reasons:
- J.J. McCarthy is making his first career start on the road, in primetime, in a raucous environment against a divisional rival.
- The Vikings are missing No. 2 wide receiver Jordan Addison (suspension), who was second on the team in receptions (63), receiving yards (875) and receiving touchdowns (9) last season.
- Addison's replacement, Jalen Nailor, recently missed practice time due to a hand injury, while McCarthy hasn't had much time to work with new No. 3 wide receiver Adam Thielen, who has only been with the Vikings for a week.
- The Vikings seemingly leaned into a more run-heavy brand of football by re-signing blocking tight end Josh Oliver to a huge deal and revamping the interior line by signing Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency and drafting Donovan Jackson in the first round of the NFL Draft.
The Bears defense poses a tough matchup through the air.
Both Jaylon Johnson (13th) and Kyler Gordon (14th) ranked top 15 at PFF among 116 qualified cornerbacks, and safety Kevin Byard ranked 22nd of 98 safeties. 2022 second-round pick Jaquan Brisker is also back at safety after missing the final 12 games of last season.
The Bears should also be a lot better versus the run after adding some beef to the interior line in the form of free-agent acquisition Grady Jarrett (Falcons) and second-round draft pick Shemar Turner (Texas A&M).
Vikings vs Bears Prediction, Best Bet
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson ordered Caleb Williams to tweak a number of things in the lead up to the new season: mechanics, footwork, foot positioning in shotgun and throws while moving left, so it would be silly to expect Johnson have Williams throwing it all over the yard in Week 1 against Brian Flores' disguise-happy defense. The Bears also didn't name a starting left tackle until a few days ago (Braxton Jones).
