In an NFC North rivals duel, the Minnesota Vikings visit the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in the first Monday Night Football game of the 2025 season.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 PM (Brasília time) on ESPN, and both teams enter the season with significant changes.

J.J. McCarthy, selected 10th overall in the 2024 Draft, takes over as the Vikings' starting quarterback for Sam Darnold, after missing his entire rookie NFL season due to a meniscal injury in his right knee.

Meanwhile, the Bears begin a new era under head coach Ben Johnson, bringing high expectations for the offense with a group of young talents that includes 2024 rookies Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, plus tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III.

Note: The odds are as of the time of publication. For real-time updates, check ESPN BET.

Getting straight to the point:
Game Picks | Props Bets | Betting Trends

Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears

Date/Time: Monday, 8:15 PM (Brasília time)
TV: ESPN
Line: Vikings -1.5 | Total: 43.5 points

Game Picks

Bears +1.5 (-115)
Pamela Maldonado (ESPN Betting): Caleb Williams finally has a high-powered offense. Ben Johnson's system prioritizes play-action, and the reinforcements on the offensive line — Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson — will give Williams time to progress through his reads. With DJ Moore, Odunze, Burden, and Loveland, Chicago has a complete group of receivers capable of pressuring Minnesota's secondary.

Defensively, the Bears' revamped defensive line should neutralize the running back duo of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, forcing McCarthy into riskier throws. At home, against a quarterback making his NFL debut, Chicago has the roster, the scheme, and the advantage to start with a win.

ESPN Analytics Projection: Bears by 0.6 (51.5% chance to win)

AnalystPick (VS. SPREAD)Total (O/U)Matt Bowen—OverPamela Maldonado—UnderEric Moody—UnderSeth Walder—Over

Player Props Bets

🎯 Best Bet: J.J. McCarthy to throw an interception (-115)
Maldonado: McCarthy's NFL debut will be against a defense that ranked in the top 10 in interceptions at home in 2024. The pressure from the Bears' defensive line should lead the quarterback to make at least one mistake.

Mike Clay's Projection: 1 interception

Cole Kmet: Over 9.5 receiving yards (-125)
Matt Bowen: The Bears are likely to use two-tight end formations to contain the Vikings' aggressive blitz scheme. Kmet will emerge as a consistent option for short passes.

Projection: 10 yards

Rome Odunze: Over 51.5 receiving yards (-110)
Eric Moody: Odunze is poised to shine against a defense that allowed the fourth-most passing yards in 2024. With a reinforced offensive line and Ben Johnson at the helm, he's a solid bet.

Projection: 57 yards

Other highlighted props:

• Justin Jefferson: 78.5 yards (-115)

• DJ Moore: 58.5 yards (-115)

• T.J. Hockenson: 42.5 yards (-115)

Defensive Prop Bet

Andrew Van Ginkel: Under 0.5 sacks (Even)
Seth Walder: Van Ginkel overperformed in 2024 (11.5 sacks) and could regress. Caleb Williams has been better protected under Johnson's new scheme, which prioritizes play-action — it significantly reduced the Lions' sacks allowed in 2024.