Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
September 20, 2026 – 6:00 p.m. BST
Ask any head coach what he wants from any given game and he’ll tell you he just wants to go 1–0 each week. But ask anyone who knows better and they’ll tell you that going 1–0 in week 1 means way more, especially against your biggest rivals.
The Vikings are following up a season-opening victory at home to the Green Bay Packers with a trip to another division rival in the form of the Chicago Bears. The Vikings are undefeated in their last six trips to Soldier Field; can they make it seven in a row?
For all the latest team news ahead of Sunday’s game, as well as how to watch it in the UK and Ireland, read on…
How to watch Vikings vs. Bears
- Vikings vs. Bears date: Sunday, September 20th
- Vikings vs. Bears kickoff time: 6:00 p.m. BST
- Vikings vs. Bears UK channel: Sky Sports Main Event (Sky 401, Virgin Media 501) / Sky Sports NFL (Sky 412, Virgin Media 510)
- Vikings vs. Bears IRE channel: Sky Sports Main Event (Sky 401, Virgin Media 501) / Sky Sports NFL (Sky 416, Virgin Media 510)
Sky have selected this game to show on Sky Sports NFL in the 6 p.m. window this Sunday, which means it will be blacked out and unavailable to watch via NFL Game Pass on DAZN.
If you’re in London or Leeds, however, you also have the option of joining your fellow fan club members for our first official meet-ups of the season. The London meet will take place at the Hippodrome Casino on Leicester Square (details here), while the Leeds event will be at the BOX Bar in the city centre (details here).
What uniforms are the Vikings wearing against the Bears?
As the home team, the Bears have first choice of uniforms for Sunday’s game. They’re expected to wear their primary home uniforms of navy blue jerseys, white pants and navy blue socks, which means the Vikings should wear their road uniforms of white jerseys, purple pants and white socks.
Ones to watch
After a slow start, the Vikings defense showed up in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers, and while it was a true team effort to pick up four sacks and an interception, special mention must go to OLB Dallas Turner, who was responsible for 7 of the team’s 15 hits on Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
It’s a real sign that the Vikings made the right choice to promote Turner to the starting job after trading Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles for a pair of third-round picks. The real test, though, will be to see if Turner can do it consistently, starting with this weekend against the Bears.
On offense, production from Carson Wentz will be key to getting enough points on the board to beat a Bears team that put 59 on the Panthers last week. If the defense can produce again, the load on Wentz will be reduced and he won’t need to act like prime Tom Brady to get the win. A lesson in game management and another three-touchdown performance could be enough to see the Vikings go 2–0 on the season.
Previous meetings
For the second year in a row, the Vikings’ first road game takes them to Chicago to face the Bears. Last time out, they scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to come back from 17–6 down to win 27–24, with first-year starter J. J. McCarthy throwing two touchdowns and rushing for one more. That was the Vikings’ sixth win in a row at Soldier Field, taking their away record in the series to 29–33–2.
The Vikings lead the overall series 69–59–2, having lost the most recent meeting between the two sides in week 11 of last season. Immediately after going ahead 17–16 in the final minute of the game, the Vikings gave up a 56-yard kickoff return that put the Bears in field goal range; they kicked the points as time expired, winning 19–17. That game proved the difference between them in the division standings, too; had the Vikings held onto victory, both teams would have finished with a 10–7 record, with the Vikings holding the edge thanks to better results in the division.
Vikings team news
The Vikings will start this week with yet another change under center, as Carson Wentz will hope to pick up where he left off against Green Bay last week, having come in after Kyler Murray suffered a head injury. Murray was limited all week as he progresses through the concussion protocol and wasn’t deemed fit enough to return to action this early.
Also unavailable this week will be WR Jauan Jennings, who was absent from practice all week dealing with a personal matter. Meanwhile, RT Brian O’Neill is questionable with a knee injury.
Earlier in the week, the Vikings placed RB Jordan Mason on injured reserve with a fractured thumb. He’ll miss at least the next four weeks, and was replaced on the active roster by Deejay Dallas, who was a gameday activation against the Packers.
Bears team news
The Bears come into this game with no injury designations, despite several players being limited during the week leading up. RB D’Andre Swift (ankle/knee) returned to full practice on Friday, while RB Kyle Monangai overcame a hamstring injury. Offensive tackles Darnell Wright and Ozzy Trapilo both had knee injuries, while DE Dayo Odeyingbo had a shoulder injury, CB Malik Muhammad was feeling his ankle and S Xavier Woods had a groin complaint.
Score predictions
- Rich: Vikings 28, Bears 12
- Reece: Vikings 31, Bears 26
- Darren: Vikings 21, Bears 17
- TPJ: Vikings 24, Bears 20
Let us know your score predictions. Send us an email at UKVikingsFanClub@gmail.com or get in touch via any of our social media channels.