Bears’ MNF meltdown brings back old Packers nightmare 1 Sep 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) rushes the ball against Chicago during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Bears’ MNF meltdown brings back old Packers nightmare

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 12:56 AM ET

Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is already in the books, but its final game still has fans buzzing, as the Chicago Bears suffered a humiliating meltdown against the Minnesota Vikings on the first Monday Night Football affair of the year.

With Ben Johnson coaching in his first-ever regular-season game for Chicago, the Bears appeared to be on their way to win No. 1 with him at the helm.

But the Vikings had other plans, with JJ McCarthy leading Minnesota’s comeback bid in the second half. Down by 11 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Vikings worked their way back from a big deficit and completed the come-from-behind attempt for a 27-24 win.

The Bears’ collapse is reminiscent of another Chicago collapse in 2018

As noted by CBS Sports, Johnson became just the second coach over the last 10 years to make his coaching debut and watch his team squander a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and lose the game.

Before that, the last coach to suffer the fate was Matt Nagy, also of the Bears. That was back in 2018, which Packers fans surely vividly remember to this day.

In Chicago’s series opener in the 2018 NFL season and with Nagy roaming the sidelines against Green Bay, the Bears built a huge lead before getting stunned by Aaron Rodgers and company. Chicago had a 17-point lead to start the fourth quarter of that game, but the Packers outscored them in that period, 21-3, leading to a dramatic 24-23 win by Green Bay.

Bears’ MNF meltdown brings back old Packers nightmare 2 Sep 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago head coach Ben Johnson reacts during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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