Minnesota Vikings beat Chicago Bears 27-24

Q4, 2:52 – Vikings 27, Bears 17

There have been 610 days between J.J. McCarthy’s pro debut tonight and the last time he played a full game — the 2024 NCAA National Championship game. It took him about three quarters to shake off the rust of that time outside the lines. He’s now led three consecutive scoring drives, adding a 14-yard touchdown just now himself on his feet.

Q4, 9:46 – Vikings 20, Bears 17

The Vikings just wanted to keep everyone on their toes! They’ve just taken their first lead of the night on a 27-yard touchdown pass from J.J. McCarthy to running back Aaron Jones, a connection and route we’d seen a handful of times in training camp. McCarthy also targeted Jones deep earlier in the game on a throw that ended up drawing a pass interference penalty. McCarthy connected with Adam Thielen for the first time all night for the two-point conversion, and the Vikings are up 20-17.

Vikings running back Aaron Jones celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown catch with tight end T.J. Hockenson. (CARLOS GONZALEZ/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Q4, 10:37 – Bears 17, Vikings 12

It’s the defense’s turn to step up. The first sack of the Vikings season belongs to defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who finally got Caleb Williams to the ground. Hargrave beat Bears center Drew Dalman.

Then Andrew Van Ginkel almost did the same thing to Williams that he did to Daniel Jones in last year’s opener, when he picked off a screen pass for pick-six.