Week 2
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
September 20, 2026
Soldier Field
NFC North Rivalry
Bears–Vikings
A division grudge born from an upset
An NFC North rivalry that began the day the Vikings entered the NFL and beat the Bears in their debut. Six-plus decades of at-least-twice-a-year meetings have made it one of the division's most consistent battles.
The Rivalry
The series started memorably in 1961, when Minnesota joined the NFL as an expansion team and immediately upset an established Bears side 37-13 in the franchise's very first game, with rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton throwing four touchdown passes. Placed together in the same conference and later the NFC North, the two clubs have met at least twice every season since, building a long, closely contested record. Defining games have tended to be wild ones — high-scoring shootouts and dramatic comebacks. The rivalry runs hot because it is relentless and balanced: two Upper Midwest teams locked into a permanent division schedule, with neither side ever able to pull decisively clear.
What's at Stake
Living in the NFC North, the Bears and Vikings carry division-race and playoff-seeding implications into every meeting. With the series historically close, each game can tip the balance of an all-time ledger that has stayed competitive for more than sixty years. Two cold-weather, blue-collar Midwestern markets treat the twice-yearly meetings as a measuring stick.
Famous Moments
- 1961 — Minnesota's expansion debut produced a 37-13 upset of the Bears behind Fran Tarkenton.
- 1985 — An injured Jim McMahon came off the bench to throw three touchdowns in a 33-24 Bears win during their championship season.
- 1995 — The Bears won the teams' only playoff meeting, a 35-18 Wild Card upset at the Metrodome.
- 2008 — The Bears edged the Vikings 48-41 in the highest-scoring game in series history.
- 2010 — Chicago beat Minnesota 40-14 in what proved to be Brett Favre's final NFL game.
The Bears–Vikings Games in 2026
The Two Teams
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Soldier Field · Chicago
A charter 1920 NFL franchise, the Bears have won nine NFL championships and hold the most Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees.
NFC North
Minnesota Vikings
U.S. Bank Stadium · Minneapolis
Founded in 1961, the Vikings have reached four Super Bowls and won 11 division titles in their first 14 seasons.
Plan the Trip
A classic cold-weather rivalry trip. Chicago hosts at lakeside Soldier Field, the league's oldest venue, while Minnesota plays indoors at Minneapolis's striking U.S. Bank Stadium, opened in 2016. The contrast — open-air lakefront football versus a glass-walled climate-controlled dome — makes a home-and-home pair especially rewarding.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bears–Vikings
The two teams first met in 1961. An NFC North rivalry that began the day the Vikings entered the NFL and beat the Bears in their debut. Six-plus decades of at-least-twice-a-year meetings have made it one of the division's most consistent battles.
Living in the NFC North, the Bears and Vikings carry division-race and playoff-seeding implications into every meeting. With the series historically close, each game can tip the balance of an all-time ledger that has stayed competitive for more than sixty years. Two cold-weather, blue-collar Midwestern markets treat the twice-yearly meetings as a measuring stick.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Chicago Bears host at Soldier Field in Chicago; Minnesota Vikings play at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
