Game Preview: Vikings vs. Bears

McCarthy makes his NFL debut after compiling a 27-1 career record as a starter at Michigan.

The Bears will try to generate takeaways against the Vikings, but not because McCarthy is a rookie; it will be their plan in every game this season.

“This is an NFL quarterback,” said defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. “He’s here for a reason and so we respect him. We respect his talents. We respect the team that we’re facing. But each week that’s part of what we do: we’re hunting the football.

“The No. 1 reason, and really the only reason why you take the field on defense, is to get the ball back for the offense. So whether that’s forcing punts, whether that’s taking the ball away, that’s what our job is, and so that’s where our focus is.”

The Bears will try to contain Jefferson, who leads NFL receivers with 7,432 yards since entering the league in 2020, an average of 96.5 yards per game. It’s the most yards in a player’s first five seasons in NFL history.

The Vikings will play without receiver Jordan Addison, who is suspended for the first three games of the season due to violating the league’s personal conduct policy. But Minnesota re-acquired receiver Adam Thielen in an Aug. 27 trade with the Panthers, bringing him back for a second stint with the Vikings.

Minnesota’s ground game is led by running back Aaron Jones, who set career highs with 255 carries and 1,138 yards last season in his first year with the Vikings after spending his first seven NFL seasons with the Packers.

“He’s a big part of their offense,” Allen said. “He’s a really explosive player, so we’ve got to do a good job of protecting the edges on the defense and we’ve got to be able to do a good job of being able to get off blocks inside, and we need 11 hats to the ball.”

Jones is expected to share carries with running back Jordan Mason, who was acquired by the Vikings in an offseason trade with the 49ers. Mason set career highs with 153 carries and 789 yards last year.

Determined to improve their pass rush and run defense during the offseason, the Bears signed tackle Grady Jarrett and end Dayo Odeyingbo. Jarrett is a two-time Pro Bowler who spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the Falcons, while Odeyingbo arrives after recording 16.5 sacks in four years with the Colts.

Key matchup: Bears defensive end Montez Sweat vs. Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill

Sweat keys a Bears pass rush that hopes to generate consistent pressure on McCarthy from its front four. He’ll face O’Neill, who has been selected to two Pro Bowls since becoming Minnesota’s starting right tackle as a rookie second-round pick from Pittsburgh in 2018.

• The Bears will open the season on Monday Night Football for the fourth time. The previous three instances were all against the defending Super Bowl champions – the Giants in 1987, Cowboys in 1996 and Packers in 199.
• Bears Hall of Famers and top-10 draft picks Mike Ditka and Brian Urlacher both made their NFL debuts in season openers against the Vikings in 1961 and 2000, respectively.