The Bears and Vikings met again Sunday at Soldier Field, and the matchup brought Ben Johnson and Brian Flores back into the same game plan chess match. It was Chicago's home opener, with the Bears coming in off the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history and Minnesota arriving after a Week 1 win of its own.
Johnson and Flores have already built a notable recent history. Johnson's teams are 5-1 against Flores-coached defenses, and those offenses have averaged 27.5 points per game in those meetings. Johnson said that when a team faces a coach like Flores, it has to prepare for everything, because the challenge changes from week to week and often demands a detailed, demanding approach all week long.
That point matters because Flores remains one of the league's most aggressive defensive play-callers. Johnson said there is always something new when facing Flores, and that is part of what makes the Vikings coordinator such a difficult opponent.
Flores, for his part, described the matchup as a chess match. He said it is hard to know exactly what a team will bring from week to week, so both sides have to make adjustments as the game unfolds. Minnesota also had evidence in Week 1 that its defense can change a game, producing four second-half sacks and seven QB hits in a 39-22 win over Green Bay.
Recent form for both teams
Chicago entered the game after beating Carolina 59-37 in Week 1. That was the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history and a strong start for a Bears team trying to build momentum early in the season. Minnesota, meanwhile, came in at 1-0 after handling Green Bay and showing that its defense can finish games with pressure.
There was also a familiar individual matchup to watch. Justin Jefferson and Jaylon Johnson were both 2020 draft picks, and each has spent his entire career with his current NFC North team. Minnesota had also won six straight games at Soldier Field, adding another layer to a division game that already carried plenty of history.
Harrison Smith was asked about Jefferson, and his praise was direct. He said Jefferson is capable of making highlight play after highlight play, and that he is extremely talented and operating the offense very well.
The Bears-Vikings meeting did not just offer another division game. It also gave Chicago a chance to test its preparation against one of the NFL's most unpredictable defensive minds, while Minnesota tried to extend its success at Soldier Field. For both teams, it was a useful early read on where they stand in Week 2.
