How to watch Bears vs. Vikings in Week 1
Prime-time lights, new faces, and a razor-thin finish. The Minnesota Vikings slipped past the Chicago Bears 27-24 on Monday Night Football to open the 2025 season, a game that doubled as JJ McCarthy’s first NFL start and the Bears debut for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams under new head coach Ben Johnson. Add a century-old rivalry and a packed Soldier Field, and you had the kind of opener the NFC North lives for.
If you were setting up your TV or stream, here’s what mattered. The game kicked off at 8:15 PM ET (7:15 PM CT) on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, from Soldier Field in Chicago. It aired on ESPN and ABC, so anyone with either network could watch live. For cord-cutters, the matchup was available on live TV streaming services that carry ESPN and ABC, including YouTube TV. Fans who prefer mobile viewing had options through NFL+ and other official league platforms in supported markets and devices.
- Matchup: Bears vs. Vikings (Week 1, Monday Night Football)
- Date: Monday, Sept. 8, 2025
- Kickoff: 8:15 PM ET / 7:15 PM CT
- TV: ESPN and ABC
- Streaming: Live TV services that carry ESPN and ABC (including YouTube TV); NFL+ and official platforms for mobile and select devices
- Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago
ESPN’s traditional Monday Night Football crew handled the broadcast, delivering the familiar prime-time cadence—play-by-play, booth analysis, and sideline updates—throughout a game that swung on a handful of drives late in the fourth quarter. If you watched through a participating provider, you could also access the simulcast and postgame coverage via their apps.
What this game showed about both teams
McCarthy, a Chicago-area native, walked into Soldier Field for his first NFL start and never looked rattled. Minnesota put him in motion-heavy looks and leaned on timing throws to get him into rhythm. He answered the moment with steady drives and clean decisions, helping the Vikings manage the flow when it tightened in the second half.
On the other sideline, Williams flashed the talent that made his debut the biggest storyline in Chicago. He extended plays, threatened downfield, and kept the Bears in striking range late. You could see Ben Johnson’s imprint on the offense—formations that forced mismatches, easy early reads to build confidence, and tempo when the Bears needed a spark.
Both teams unveiled tweaks from the offseason. Minnesota mixed play-action and quick-game concepts to protect its young quarterback while opening windows in the intermediate areas. Chicago’s attack showed layers: motion to identify coverages, designed rollouts to help Williams see clean lanes, and a balanced approach that kept Minnesota honest.
The margin came down to situational football. Minnesota executed better on third downs and in the red zone when it counted most. The Vikings’ closing drive bled the clock and set up the go-ahead points, then the defense tightened on Chicago’s final possession. In a three-point game, those sequences separated the winner from the almost.
For the NFC North, it’s one result in September, but it carries weight. The Vikings grabbed an early road win in the division with a first-time starter under center—no small thing. The Bears walked off the field knowing their rookie quarterback can handle prime time and that Johnson’s scheme travels. That’s a foundation you can build on for the weeks ahead.
Atmosphere mattered, too. Soldier Field was loud from the opening kick, and the stakes felt bigger than a typical opener because of who was under center. McCarthy playing his first NFL snaps in his hometown market added a wrinkle. Williams taking his first NFL snaps in front of that crowd added pressure—and juice.
From a viewing standpoint, this one was made for casual fans and diehards alike. A familiar Monday Night Football booth, clean camera work in the elements, and the kind of replay angles that explain why plays worked—or didn’t—gave the game a polished feel. Postgame hits focused on the quarterbacks, but the subtext was coaching: Minnesota’s staff put its rookie in position to succeed, and Chicago’s staff showed a plan that should age well.
If you missed it live, check your TV provider or streaming platform for on-demand replays and condensed versions. Most services that carry ESPN and ABC offer rewatch options after the final whistle, especially for prime-time games. And if you’re tracking either team beyond Week 1, this tape will be one coaches and fans revisit—early proof of concept for new offenses and a reminder that this rivalry still knows how to deliver under the lights.