Bears vs. Vikings on ABC/ESPN: Start time, how to watch, and the wild Week 1 finish

How to watch, when it kicked off, and why this one mattered

Under the bright lights of Monday Night Football, Bears vs Vikings gave Week 1 an instant jolt. The NFC North rivals met at Soldier Field on September 8, 2025, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET (7:15 p.m. CT), and the game aired nationally on ABC and ESPN. For fans outside the U.S., the broadcast ran on Sky Sports in the UK. Streaming options included ESPN+ and in-market viewing on NFL+; international viewers could access NFL Game Pass.

• Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET (7:15 p.m. CT)
• TV: ABC and ESPN (Monday Night Football)
• Streaming: ESPN+ (national), NFL+ (in-market), NFL Game Pass (international)
• Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

This one already had storylines baked in. Minnesota handed the keys to J.J. McCarthy, the local kid from the Chicago area, making his first NFL start. Across the field, the Bears rolled out Caleb Williams under new head coach Ben Johnson, who was calling his first game in charge of Chicago. The Vikings had also owned the recent series, taking four of the last five and outscoring the Bears 118-77 over that stretch. On paper, Minnesota came in with a mid-pack profile from last year—12th in total offense and 16th in total defense—while Chicago’s defense finished 13th in points allowed but the offense lagged, ranking fifth-worst.

The game: a slow burn that exploded in the fourth

For three quarters, Chicago looked like the steadier side. Williams opened sharp, completing his first 10 passes and guiding the Bears to a 10-6 halftime lead. Ben Johnson’s script worked: quick throws, rhythm plays, manageable down-and-distance. The Bears then nudged the margin to 17-6 by the end of the third, and the home crowd settled into the idea that this was their night—and their coach’s new era—starting clean.

Then the fourth quarter flipped everything. McCarthy settled in and started dealing. He found Justin Jefferson for a touchdown to jolt the Vikings back into it, then connected with Aaron Jones for another score as Minnesota accelerated the tempo and attacked space. With Chicago on its heels late, McCarthy kept the ball on a designed run and scooted in from 14 yards with under three minutes to play, capping a 21-point final period. The Vikings won it 27-24, a comeback that took less than a quarter to build and the air out of Soldier Field.

What changed? Minnesota adjusted its protection and got McCarthy moving—rollouts, rhythm throws, and quick reads that blunted Chicago’s rush. Jefferson created separation downfield, Jones punished soft underneath zones, and the Vikings leaned on tempo to prevent the Bears from rotating fresh bodies. It looked like veteran play-calling from Kevin O’Connell married to a first-time starter who didn’t blink.

Chicago’s defense had done most of the game’s dirty work up to that point, keeping Minnesota in field-goal mode and forcing long drives. But the fourth quarter brought longer possessions for the Vikings and short fields after stalled Bears series. Williams still handled the moment with poise, but Chicago couldn’t land the knockout drive it needed, and a couple of empty possessions left the door open just wide enough for Minnesota to crash through.

For the Bears, the early signs were encouraging even in defeat. Williams’ accuracy on the opening script hinted at a cleaner operation than last season. Johnson’s plan emphasized timing routes and yards after the catch, which worked until Minnesota backed Chicago into obvious passing downs. The Bears’ offense, which averaged just 18.2 points per game last season, showed more shape—but not yet the late-game finishing power that separates wins from lessons.

For the Vikings, this was validation. They’ve controlled this rivalry lately, and they did it again the hard way—on the road, at night, climbing out of an 11-point hole after three quarters. That’s a locker-room win you can carry, especially with a first-time starter under center. McCarthy’s stat line will matter less than the sequence: two touchdown throws, one rushing score, and total command with the game on the line. Jefferson and Jones, both proven closers, gave him high-percentage windows and trustworthy checkdowns.

Context matters here. Minnesota’s 2024 profile said middle-of-the-pack team with playmakers. Monday night said something louder: they can still turn a game with a burst. Chicago’s 2024 profile said tough defense, low-output offense. Monday night said the offense has a pulse, but the defense needs a four-quarter finish against explosive skill talent.

Also worth noting: Ben Johnson’s debut won’t be remembered for the first 45 minutes, but it probably should be. Chicago’s plan worked until it didn’t, and that’s where the NFL usually lives. The transition from a steady, scripted opening to problem-solving in the fourth quarter is where new head coaches get tested. He’ll want drive-finishing answers and pressure beaters for when a pass rush heats up late. Those fixes are teachable and timely in Week 1.

For Minnesota, O’Connell pushed the right buttons in crunch time, and the sideline looked calm even when the scoreboard didn’t. That part matters with a young quarterback. Give him concepts he likes, push tempo to simplify the picture, and let professional stars—Jefferson and Jones—handle the leverage snaps. That’s how you grow a first-time starter without playing scared.

So, yes, the TV listing was simple—ABC and ESPN, Monday night, prime time—but the game ended up being a real Week 1 stress test. The Vikings walked out with a statement road win, 27-24. The Bears walked out with evidence their offense is moving in the right direction and a reminder that closing out talented teams takes more than a hot start.