Michael Wilbon reveals confident prediction ahead of Bears clash with Vikings on MNF

Wilbon believes the Bears will show up on Monday Night Football

The Chicago Bears hired the most sought-after head coaching candidate during this offseason’s cycle. Every team looking for a new franchise leader wanted to interview Ben Johnson, but he took the job in Chicago, opting to stay in the NFC North and work with Caleb Williams.

Johnson knows the Minnesota Vikings well. He’s had several battles with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who boasts a complex scheme with a very aggressive front seven.

That defensive front can be problematic, but Ben Johnson was 5-1 against the Vikings in his time as the offensive coordinator of the Lions, and put up 30+ points in all five of those wins.

Michael Wilbon believes the Bears will dominate the Vikings on Monday Night Football, going on ESPN Chicago radio to say:

“I expect [the Bears] to beat the hell out of the Vikings, and I expect them to make a rookie quarterback look like a rookie quarterback.”

Wilbon targeted JJ McCarthy, saying he doesn’t believe in him as a franchise quarterback. He argued that McCarthy wasn’t responsible for the national championship win with the Michigan Wolverines, and when the show hosts suggested he was still the quarterback of the winning team, Wilbon said:

“Is he bringing that line with him, and that running game with him, and that defense with him? Is he bringing all that? I’m telling you straight up, I don’t believe in him.”

There has been a lot of conversation around the Minnesota Vikings’ faith in JJ McCarthy this season.

Stephen A. Smith slammed their decision to let Sam Darnold walk as a free agent, in favor of a quarterback who’s never taken a regular-season snap in the NFL.

The Vikings have a very promising roster, including their playmakers and a talented defense, but if JJ McCarthy struggles in what is essentially his rookie season, their season could implode.

McCarthy tore his meniscus in the preseason of his rookie year, and so hasn’t played a down yet in a meaningful NFL game.

That said, he has spent a year working with Kevin O’Connell and taking mental reps of how everything operates in his system.

Sam Darnold had a career year in his time with O’Connell, which netted him a $100 million payday as one of the greatest comeback stories of the 2024 season.

Ben Johnson wanted to stay in the NFC North, enjoyed his battles with the Vikings

In his introductory press conference as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson took a moment to make it known that he wanted to remain in the NFC North.

In doing so, Johnson will face his former team in the Lions twice a season, but will also continue his battles with Kevin O’Connell of the Vikings, and Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers.

Johnson said it was the toughest division in football, and continued to say:

“Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell, you talk about two guys who are up for coach of the year awards as the season ends here, and to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”