After what was one of the more surprising Week 1 showings in league history, the Chicago Bears are back at Soldier Field for their 2026 home opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
Both teams come in with a record of 1-0 after each having very different Week 1 outcomes. Minnesota erased a second-half deficit by scoring 29 unanswered points and beating the Green Bay Packers by a score of 39-22.
Meanwhile, the Bears handled the Panthers, overall, but their defense still gave up 37 to Bryce Young and company.
In an early NFC North battle, it'll be Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen going up against Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores.
Here's everything to know ahead of kickoff.
Table of contents
- How to watch Bears vs. Vikings in Week 2
- Weather forecast for kickoff
- Latest injury updates
- Top storylines
- What the experts are saying
- Final prediction
How to watch Bears vs. Vikings in Week 2
Date: Sunday, September 20
Time: 12:00PM CST
TV network: FOX
Announcers: Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
Weather forecast for kickoff
Projected temperature at kickoff: 65 degrees
Precipitation: 45% chance of rain
Wind: 15mph
Latest injury updates
The Bears might have alarmed some fans when Darnell Wright was held out of practice due to what the team called a knee injury, but he was back at practice on Thursday and Friday with no injury designation. Safety Xavier Woods also put together two straight days of limited practice and fully participating on Friday with no injury designation, putting him in line to start next to Dillon Thieneman.
Full Bears injury report from practice on 9/16 on
Player | Injury | 9/16 Practice Status | 9/17 Practice Status | 9/18 Practice Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OL Joe Thuney | Rest | n/a | DNP | Full |
RB Kyle Monangai | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Full |
CB Malik Muhammad | Ankle | Limited | Limited | Full |
DL Dayo Odeyingbo | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | Full |
RB D'Andre Swift | Ankle/Knee | Limited | Limited | Full |
OL Ozzy Trapilo | Knee | Limited | Limited | Full |
S Xavier Woods | Groin | Limited | Limited | Full |
OL Darnell Wright | Knee | DNP | Limited | Full |
DL Neville Gallimore | Illness | DNP | Full | Full |
DL Grady Jarrett | Rest | DNP | Full | Full |
As for the Vikings, most questions have revolved around the quarterback position. If you ask me, I want to see Kyler Murray on Sunday -- and here's why.
Murray was ruled out for the game and Carson Wentz will start for the Vikings.
Full Vikings injury report from 9/16 on
Player | Injury | 9/16 Practice Status | 9/17 Practice Status | Injury Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LB Blake Cashman | Wrist | Limited | Full | - |
WR Jauan Jennings | Personal | DNP | DNP | Out |
QB Kyler Murray | Concussion | Limited | Limited | Out |
OL Brian O'Neill | Knee | Limited | DNP | Questionable |
DL Andrew Van Ginkel | Chest | Limited | Limited | - |
The one that raises my eyebrows, a little bit, is starting offensive tackle Brian O'Neill with a knee injury. He practiced in limited fashion on Wednesday but then was held out on Thursday and now is questionable to play.
Could the Vikings be without one of their top offensive linemen?
Top storylines
Vikings QB: Wentz or Murray?
With Kyler Murray coming off injury and having been in the concussion protocol, all eyes are on Carson Wentz to likely start this one.
Murray gives the Vikings a completely different aspect to the game whereas he's not going to be a statue in the pocket like Wentz will. But, Murray's play also has a tendency to be erratic at times -- his first attempt as a Viking was picked off.
Bears defense: can they improve upon allowing 37 points in Week 1?
Everybody knows this offense is Super Bowl-caliber at this point. There's no question about what the Bears can do when it comes to scoring points. But, will they be able to stop Justin Jefferson? Can the cornerbacks play better than they did against Carolina?
There isn't much more to say about this defense other than hoping they simply show up on Sunday, because Week 1 was downright abysmal: 37 points allowed, Bryce Young threw for 361 yards and Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson were nowhere to be found.
Brian Flores' pressure vs. Ben Johnson's offensive ingenuity
Johnson is 5-1 against Flores throughout their career matchups, so he's no stranger to figuring out how to attack Flores' blitz mania. The Vikings didn't stop blitzing Jordan Love in Week 1 -- and that's evidenced by a near-80 percent blitz rate on Love drop-backs.
If Flores is going to stand his ground and continue blitzing Chicago, you best believe Johnson has plenty of plays drawn up to take advantage. If the Bears prove they can handle the blitz and keep scoring points, will Flores then adjust his strategy?
What the experts are saying
Brian Baldinger on Brian Flores' blitz rate against Caleb Williams and the Bears:
"They (Minnesota) gave up an 81-yard touchdown to Christian Watson against their max pressure look, and it didn't stop him (Flores) at all. In fact, he just came back with more (pressure). So, if Caleb stings him the way he did last week to Carolina with two big touchdown runs, I don't know if it's going to slow him down." (104.3 The Score)
Sports Illustrated's Vikings expert Adam Carlson predicts a Minnesota loss:
"Getting a Week 1 win against the Packers is enough to put a smile on any Vikings fan's face, but there won't be anything to smile about when the Bears hand Minnesota their first loss of the season in a close game." (On SI)
Brad Biggs doubles down on Bears defense being weary of Justin Jefferson
"Justin Jefferson can hurt them. When Wentz came into the ball game last week, after Kyler Murray left, pretty much the only guy he threw the ball to was Justin Jefferson ... the Vikings knew where the ball was going. The Packers knew where the ball was going and they were still able to create some plays, so the Bears are going to have to be really mindful of where Justin Jefferson is on the field at all times." (104.3 The Score on YouTube)
Courtney Cronin chimes in on why Brian Flores' tendencies are so unpredictable
"Flores' blitz-heavy tendencies are difficult to predict. Williams was blitzed on 37.2% of his dropbacks (6-of-13, 36 yards, TD) during Chicago's season-opening loss to the Vikings in 2025. When the division opponents played again in Week 11, Flores sent a blitz 66.7% of the time, which resulted in Williams completing 11 of his 21 passes for 126 yards (6.0 yards per attempt).
"Trying to predict which strategy Flores will deploy can be a fruitless exercise." (via ESPN)
Final prediction
In the end, I don't think the Bears are going to hang 59 points on the Vikings. But, I do think they keep the offense rolling.
Read more: Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores is set up to be a thoroughbred slugfest
Defensively, the Bears' cornerbacks don't stand a chance against Jefferson, or Jordan Addison, for that matter. Minnesota will find the end zone a couple of times, but the Bears find ways to get stops in the red zone as well, which is something they couldn't do in Carolina.
Bears 34 Vikings 23
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