3 Bold Calls for Vikings at Bears
In two days, the long wait will be over.
Dustin Baker’s three bold predictions for Vikings at Bears, highlighting key factors and unexpected possibilities that could be on the way Monday night.
The last time anybody saw the Minnesota Vikings in a meaningful capacity, the Los Angeles Rams were doing evil things to a 14-3 team.
Now, the regular season is here, and Minnesota will start the campaign off at Soldier Field, meeting the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
These are the three bold predictions for that event. Remember — bold takes are designed to be out-there and a bit outlandish.
3 Bold Twists Waiting in Vikings-Bears
Getting creative, put us down for these wacky takes in Week 1.
1. Myles Price Scores a TD — Probably a Return
Marcus Sherels was the last Minnesota Viking to return a punt for a touchdown, and that was nine years ago. The team is wickedly overdue for a single punt return specialist to take the rock to the endzone.
That will be Price on Monday night, introducing himself to the world and instantly winning Vikings fans’ hearts. Nobody had heard of the guy when the summer began, and he’s now the punt returner + kick returner for Minnesota.
If the punt return prognostication is wrong, Price will take a kick back for six or score an unexpected receiving touchdown.
2. The Vikings Pound in 2 Rushing TDs Near the Goal Line
Kevin O’Connell’s offense has struggled with the somewhat elementary assignment of scoring rushing touchdowns inside the redzone and specifically from five yards or closer. It’s well-documented, and O’Connell tends to lean on the pass, even in obvious rushing situations.
Well, to prove O’Connell means business this time, he’ll actually call running plays inside the five yardline — and the strategy will work. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason will score a touchdown apiece from close. The offseason plan — three new interior offensive linemen as starters, the Jordan Mason trade, and re-signing Aaron Jones — will look brilliant in the first regular season game.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz predicted for Mason this year: “Only 11 NFL running backs had at least 10 rushing touchdowns last season. Detroit’s David Montgomery is the only one who wasn’t the lead back in his offense. That’s what makes this a bold prediction — Mason is viewed as the 1B in the Vikings’ backfield behind Jones heading into the season.”
“He also has just seven career rushing touchdowns in three seasons with the 49ers, although last year (during Christian McCaffrey’s absence) was the first time he had been in a featured role.”
A Vikings running back hasn’t scored double-digit touchdowns since 2020. Dalvin Cook.
“Mason can get to double-digit rushing TDs even if Jones remains healthy all year. I think he’ll have at least a 40-45 percent share of the Vikings’ backfield touches, with the possibility for more. Mason’s size and physical running style also make him a logical candidate for carries in the low red zone,” Ragatz added.
“And if the 30-year-old Jones gets banged up and misses any time, the path to 10 or more rushing TDs for Mason gets even clearer.”
3. Things Get Sloppy for J.J. McCarthy
Shield your eyes for this one.
Optimism is sky high for J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings embark on the 2025 season. Overall, McCarthy will perform well this season and totally inspire confidence in fans, knowing the club found the right guy.
But the journey won’t always be painless. McCarthy will take his lumps. And at Soldier Field, a spot notorious for general weirdness when the Vikings do business there, McCarthy will miss some throws, make a couple of rookie mistakes, and produce a turnover or two.
NFL fans have been spoiled by Patrick Mahomes in 2018, Justin Herbert in 2020, C.J. Stroud in 2023, and Jayden Daniels last year, but not every young quarterback plays like a Pro Bowler at 22 years old.
McCarthy will display some sloppy moments on Monday night — because that’s just the way it goes.
You must be logged in to post a comment.