Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings – Week 2 Game Preview: Overview, Keys to Game, Insights
The Bears (1-0) got the 2026 season underway with a dynamic offensive performance on the road against the Panthers, when they scored 59 points to win going away. Quarterback Caleb Williams was outstanding but the real story was the running game that amassed over 200 yards and saw running backs D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai each rush for 100 yards.
Chicago had some issues defensively, allowing 478 total yards and 37 points to Carolina, which continued a troubling trend from last season. Ben Johnson’s squad now heads to Soldier Field to get the home slate started against the Vikings Sunday.
Minnesota (1-0) stunned the Packers at US Bank Stadium in Week 1 by scoring 29 consecutive points and erasing a 22-10 deficit to win by 17 points. They went 9-8 in 2025 and were limited by extremely shaky quarterback play from J.J. McCarthy, who had 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 starts.
In 2026 McCarthy has been demoted to third string and the Vikes brought in Kyler Murray from the Cardinals to be the starter but he was concussed early in the Green Bay game with Carson Wentz playing the final three quarters in his place. Despite the QB problems, WR Justin Jefferson still had 1048 receiving yards last year and Jordan Addison is always a big play waiting to happen.
Minnesota’s running game was not dynamic last season with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason splitting time. Mason is currently on IR after injuring his hand against the Packers so the onus will be on Jones the next few weeks.
The Vikings strong suit is on defense where they allowed 282 yards and 19.6 points per game in 2025, both of which were in the top 10 in the NFL. They had 60 sacks with Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, Eric Wilson, and Jalen Redmond all having six or more.
The strongest aspect of the defense for Minnesota is the secondary which allowed just 158.5 passing yards a game last season, trailing only the Buffalo Bills. Byron Murphy Jr is one of the best cover corners in football and veteran safety Harrison Smith is still the anchor in the back end in his 15th NFL season.
The Bears lost at home to the Vikings in the opening week of the season last year, so they can’t take them lightly. This will also be a tougher defense than the Panthers fielded last week, giving them a chance to show just how good this offense is. Either way, it will be a raucous crowd and a pretty exciting game on Sunday.
Where to Watch/Listen
- Sunday, September 20 at 12:00pm CT FOX, WBBM Radio (English), and WRTO Radio (Spanish).
Keys to Victory
Here are my keys to Sunday’s game. If these things happen, the Bears should have a shot to win.
- Capitalize on mistakes made by Wentz. The Vikings’ backup quarterback is very likely to start in this one and he will make several mistakes throughout the game. The Bears need to take advantage and convert them into turnovers.
- Keep the ball on the ground. Chicago had a ton of success on the ground in Carolina and they need to do the same against Minnesota and their elite passing defense.
- Get Colston Loveland more involved. The Bears’ dynamic tight end did not touch the ball against the Panthers. Obviously, that has to change going forward to get the absolute most out of the offense.
- Don’t let Jefferson wreck the game. Chicago’s secondary had some major issues in game one and they can’t let the Vikings All Pro receiver completely take over. They aren’t going to stop him but they need to at least try to contain him.
Don’t Tell Me the Odds
The Bears are favored by 4.5 points at home against the Vikings. The over/under of 48.5 means it’s expected to be a high-scoring game.
It’s Football Weather
The weather forecast for Soldier Field Sunday afternoon is 66 with a chance of thunderstorms throughout the game.
My Prediction
These two division rivals usually play low-scoring affairs that usually come down to the wire. I think the same thing will happen again Sunday. The Bears will have a harder time moving the ball against one of the better defenses in football. Likewise, I think Chicago will have more success slowing down Wentz and come out ahead. The home team will get the victory by a score of 21-17.
Official NFL Preview
Here is the official preview of the Bears-Vikings game from the NFL
