5 things you need to know from the Chicago Bears' Week 1 loss to the Vikings
Chicago Bears fans weren't expecting this. Sure, if you've been a Bears fan long enough, the pain of a frustrating loss -- especially early in the season when the glass of hope is full -- is a familiar one. But this loss, the first game of the Ben Johnson era, on Monday night football, to an offense led by a quarterback starting his first game in the NFL (and first football game in 20 months), is especially painful.
And, yeah, that quarterback -- J.J. McCarthy -- defeated our quarterback -- Caleb Williams -- despite falling way short of Williams in every major scouting report category in the run-up to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Williams was the first pick. McCarthy was the 10th pick. Williams started every game last year. McCarthy started the first game of his career on Monday night.
But it was McCarthy's Vikings who left Soldier Field with a 27-24 win despite a first half in which the Bears had little to no trouble handling everything Minnesota threw their way on offense and defense.
McCarthy rose to the occasion in the second half. Williams didn't. It's that simple.
In the first installment of our weekly post-game column, here are five things you need to know from Week 1's Chicago Bears loss.
Caleb Williams is out of excuses
I'm not ready to turn heel on Williams. But I'm sure you're feeling the same way I am; patience is running thin. There are only so many open throws Williams can miss before the excuses run out. There are only so many chaotic plays that can be blamed on the offensive line or play call. At some point, the buck will stop with Williams, and there's no doubt that that time will come in 2025. Ben Johnson is a brilliant offensive mind. If the offense struggles, it won't be his fault. And, remember: The Bears signed Tyson Bagent to a two-year extension for a reason. The leash won't be as long as you think.
Dayo Odeyingbo may have been a good signing after all
Who had Odeyingbo being the most impressive Bears defender on their Bingo card? I certainly didn't. In fact, I was really concerned about how effective Odeyingbo would be for the Bears this season after such a brutal preseason showing. However, in Week 1 against the Vikings, Odeyingbo looked like Chicago's most dominant defensive lineman. Sure, he benefited from facing the Vikings' backup left tackle, but that's the NFL -- you compete against who you compete against. Odeyingbo was a star on defense this week and proved he may just be worth his three-year, $48 million deal after all.
Bears' running game remains a mystery
D'Andre Swift had his moments against the Vikings, but he still only managed 3.1 yards per carry, finishing with 17 carries for 53 yards. I'll take a deeper dive into his snaps when I break down his game for our BearsTalk Grades, but it's hard to believe the offensive line didn't open enough running lanes for him to be more efficient than that. I'm surprised Ben Johnson didn't give Kyle Monangai any opportunities to run the ball, which is something I'm pretty sure will change in Week 2. Swift wasn't good enough, and Johnson knows it.
Penalties are a very real problem on offense
The Chicago Bears certainly upgraded the talent on the offensive line, but it doesn't matter how good the starting five is if they make boneheaded mistakes before the snap. Jonah Jackson and Darnell Wright were both jumpy; the penalties called on the offensive line were drive killers. For a coach like Johnson, who emphasizes clean football, Monday night's performance will likely make him reach for the TUMS bottle.
There's always a bright side
Look, the loss sucks. I know it; you know it. But I'd rather lose a close game to a division rival with a head coach who will burn the midnight oil to clean things up than win the way the Bears did in their 2024 opener against the Tennessee Titans. Sure, the 2024 Bears were 1-0, but they fell apart because of the poor structure within the organization. These Chicago Bears feel very different, and you should have confidence in Ben Johnson being the kind of head coach who will build off of a loss more than previous coaching staffs were able to capitalize off of wins.
