Keys for the 2026 Bears to Get a Week Two Win Over the Vikings
In Week One of the 2026 season, the Chicago Bears carried over last year's success. They had one of the league's best moments by scoring 59 points against the Panthers. However, they also allowed 37 points. Now, they turn their attention to the Minnesota Vikings, who also won in Week One. If they wish to win in Week Two, there are a few keys to victory.
Prepare for the Blitz
Brian Flores has always been known as an aggressive defensive coordinator. He sends a heavy blitz for a majority of the game, and Week One was no different. Jordan Love was consistently under pressure, and it stopped his rhythm in the second half. Without this, the Vikings may not have pulled off a win. They ended with four sacks, but the pressure Love faced affected nearly every pass.
Caleb Williams is an elite athlete who can make defenders miss at a high level. However, this matchup with the Flores-led defense will test him. Scoring 59 points will likely not happen against Minnesota. If Chicago wants to pull off a win, they need to design plays that can beat blitzes, even just simple screens. The Bears have the offensive weapons who can be dangerous in the open field. Ben Johnson is an elite play caller, and he needs to be at his best this week for Chicago to beat their division rivals.
Keep the Run Game Going
Speaking of the Bears offense, they need the run game to make their presence felt. They dominated the Panthers by rushing for 291 yards and six touchdowns. Chicago averaged an incredible seven and a half yards per carry on 39 attempts. D’Andre Swift led the way with 18 carries, 124 yards, and three touchdowns. Kyle Monangai added 10 rushes for 100 yards and another touchdown. Williams joined the party, rushing 10 times for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
Finding success in the passing game will be a lot tougher against the blitz. Minnesota has a strong defense; scoring will not be easy. A good run game would help set up the Bears' passing attack, which is what Johnson likes to do each week. The biggest issue when facing Minnesota's offense is their elite weapons, even with questions in the quarterback room. Chicago needs to keep the Vikings' offense off the field, and the best way to do that is through controlling the clock with the run game.
Cut Down the Penalties
One major issue Chicago faced in Week One was penalties. Their 12 penalties almost cost them the game. A majority were in the trenches, which held back the flow of the offense. They also gave the Panthers' offense new life by extending their drives. The referee crew was flag-happy, as Carolina had 11 for 84 yards. Early in the season, most teams are shaking off the rust, so mistakes are more common. However, Chicago needs to play cleaner. The defense is in a rough spot, so they need to limit penalties and score consistently. Minnesota is a tough team to beat, and recording this many penalties again would be hard for the Bears to overcome.
Final Thoughts
Chicago is opening as projected winners against the Vikings in Week Two. To get another win, they have to control a few factors. If they can not control the blitz, then the offense will have a tough day. Speaking of the offense, the rushing attack will be crucial to building on their Week One success. Finally, penalties plagued them against the Panthers, and that can not happen again. These division rivals always play competitive games, and their first matchup of the 2026 season could very well be another game that comes down to the last drive.
