2025 NFL Week 1 betting - Monday Night Football: Vikings-Bears odds, picks - ESPN

In a clash of NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings visit the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field for the first «Monday Night Football» game of the 2025 season.

Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN, and both teams enter the season with significant changes.

J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in 2024, takes over at quarterback for the Vikings, replacing Sam Darnold, after sitting out his first NFL season because of a torn meniscus in his right knee.

The Bears, meanwhile, begin a new era under coach Ben Johnson, bringing high hopes on the offensive side with an wealth of young talent in 2024 first-rounders Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, and rookie tight end Colston Loveland and rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III.

Note: Odds at time of publication. For the latest updates, visit ESPN BET.

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Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

Pamela Maldonado: Williams finally has a real offense with which to work. Johnson's system brings heavy play-action, and protection upgrades with Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson will give Williams time to operate and attack downfield. With DJ Moore, Odunze, Burden and Loveland, Chicago now has a complete group of pass-catching options capable of stressing Minnesota's secondary.

Defensively, the Bears' revamped front should help neutralize the backfield duo of Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason, and force McCarthy into tough throws. At home, facing a quarterback making his NFL regular-season debut, Chicago has the roster, scheme and edge to start 1-0. It just needs to execute.

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

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Maldonado: McCarthy's first NFL start comes on the road against a Bears defense that quietly