Bears Offense Falters in 27-24 Loss to Vikings

On September 9, 2025, the Chicago Bears suffered a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in their season opener. The start of the Ben Johnson era as the Bears' offensive coordinator felt a lot like the end of the Matt Eberflus era, with the team's familiar offensive woes resurfacing.

The Bears' defense, despite missing several key players, held the Vikings' offense in check for most of the game. Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, signed in free agency, was a standout performer, recording two tackles, a sack, two quarterback hits, and a pass breakup. However, the offense was unable to capitalize on the defense's efforts.

The Bears' offense showed promise on their opening possession, with quarterback Caleb Williams leading a 10-play, 61-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown run. But the offense struggled to maintain that momentum, with pre-snap penalties and an inability to establish the run game proving to be their downfall.

Quarterback Caleb Williams started strong but regressed as the game wore on, missing open receivers in the second half. The offensive line, outside of left guard Joe Thuney, had their share of struggles, with right guard Jonah Jackson proving to be a liability throughout the night.

Despite the disappointing loss, there were some bright spots for the Bears, including the performance of third-year linebacker Noah Sewell, who stepped up in the absence of T.J. Edwards and led the team with nine total tackles. However, the team's kicking woes continued, with Cairo Santos missing a crucial 50-yard field goal attempt.