The 2025 NFL schedule is officially out, and the Chicago Bears are wasting no time being in the national spotlight.
Chicago is set to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football to cap off the league's first week of the regular season.
There are plenty of storylines for the bears. But regarding the Vikings specifically, they now have an opportunity to make a statement.
J.J. McCarthy could get a rude awakening from Dennis Allen in his first NFL start
New Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will be making his debut while Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be as well. After an injury forced him to miss his entire rookie season, McCarthy is now "the guy" in Minnesota.
To be frank, neither McCarthy nor Caleb Williams will have it easy. Brian Flores is a defensive mastermind. Despite having a new-and-improved offensive line and even more weapons, Williams' life will be made difficult.
McCarthy, though, has guys like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison among others, to work with. Still, he is going up against a tough defensive mind in Allen.
While some will immediately think of his lack of success as a head coach with the Saints, he was a phenomenal defensive coordinator. In fact, the last time he was a full-time coordinator, he was statistically the No. 1 overall defensive play caller in the NFL.
Allen is an aggressor on defense, which is something Bears fans are not used to seeing. Unlike Matt Eberflus, Allen will take gambles. He will send extra men on blitzes occasionally. He does not want to be predictable by any means, and for a quarterback who may as well be a rookie, Allen will make things tough on McCarthy.
If this Bears defense takes the step fans are hoping for, Week 1 could be a "welcome to the NFL" moment for the 2024 first-round pick.