Live score updates: Vikings-Bears on Monday Night Football, Week 1

The moment has finally arrived. The J.J. McCarthy era is about to begin.

McCarthy is all set to make his NFL debut tonight at Soldier Field in Chicago, roughly 30 minutes from his hometown. He's essentially been preparing for this moment for the last 16-plus months since the Vikings selected him 10th overall out of Michigan in the 2024 draft. After tearing his meniscus last August and missing his rookie season, he's been awaiting this opportunity to show what he can do.

This is a fascinating way for the Vikings to begin their season. It's a primetime showdown on Monday Night Football against a division rival with a new head coach and a second-year quarterback who was selected No. 1 overall in last year's draft. McCarthy's first test comes in a hostile road environment with the eyes of the nation watching him on TV.

But he won't be alone. The Vikings aren't going to ask McCarthy to be a superhero. They want to lean on their running game and use play-action passing to set their young quarterback up for success. It's not ideal that he won't have star left tackle Christian Darrisaw protecting his blindside, but it works in McCarthy's favor that the Bears will be without their best linebacker and their two best cornerbacks. He'll look to take care of the football, operate the offense, and get the ball to players like Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones against a depleted defense.

It'll be equally intriguing to see what happens when the Bears have the ball. How will Caleb Williams fare as he begins his second season? How will Ben Johnson, who came from Detroit to Chicago, do in the schematic chess match against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores? Minnesota doesn't have Harrison Smith, but it does have a fearsome pass rush that added Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave this offseason.

This should be a fun one. Follow along below for live updates throughout the game.

Final score: Vikings 27, Bears 24

Read the recap here

Live updates

Fourth quarter

Vikings 27, Bears 24

2:02 — It's a three-point game again. The Bears just went 65 yards in less than a minute and scored on a Rome Odunze TD reception to make this one interesting. They have just one timeout left.

Vikings 27, Bears 17

2:59 — McCarthy just ran for a touchdown to give the Vikings a 10-point lead. This quarter has been unbelievable.

Vikings 20, Bears 17

9:46 — This game has taken quite the turn. J.J. McCarthy just hit Aaron Jones for a 27-yard touchdown and then hit Adam Thielen for the two-point conversion. Just like that, the Vikings lead.

Bears 17, Vikings 12

12:13 — The Vikings are alive indeed. McCarthy's first career TD pass goes to Justin Jefferson from 13 yards out. They failed on the two-point try, so they still need another touchdown.

14:55 — A Cairo Santos missed field goal gives the Vikings some life. But can they get anything going on offense in this quarter?

Third quarter

5:46 — Things still aren't going well for the Vikings' offense. Adam Thielen just had the ball stripped out of his hands for an incompletion on third and short. Minnesota punting again.

Bears 17, Vikings 6

12:51 — J.J. McCarthy just had his "welcome to the NFL" moment. Facing pressure on third down, he tried to hit Justin Jefferson but Nahshon Wright undercut the route for a 74-yard pick-six. That's one he'll want to have back.

Second quarter

Halftime: Bears 10, Vikings 6

0:06 — The two teams just traded field goals in the final 30 seconds of the half. Cairo Santos hit from 42 yards out for the Bears, and a 28-yard completion to Jalen Nailor set the Vikings up for Will Reichard to make a 59-yarder with six seconds on the clock. After a rough first half for the Vikings' offense, they're down just four points at the break.

5:52 — The Bears just went three and out and had to punt it away. The Vikings' pass rush finally began to show up a bit, even if it didn't result in a sack.

6:52 — It's still not going great for the Vikings' offense. The defense was bailed out by a Caleb Williams miss on fourth down near the red zone, and Minnesota proceeded to go three and out for the third time in four tries. Then Ryan Wright shanked the punt.

Bears 7, Vikings 3

12:48 — The Vikings are on the board. A long pass interference penalty on a deep ball to Aaron Jones moved the ball into Bears territory, but the offense stalled out there after a loss of yardage on second down and a Justin Jefferson drop (which would've been short of the sticks anyways). Will Reichard drilled the short field goal.

First quarter

0:58 — The Vikings got a much-needed stop after blowing up a Bears screen pass on third and short. Offense back to work.

4:51 — Another three and out for the Vikings. McCarthy again tried to scramble on third down but was tripped up for a sack. Not an ideal start.

Bears 7, Vikings 0

7:04 — The Bears get on the board first. Caleb Williams, who was 6 for 6 for 51 yards as a passer on Chicago's opening drive, ran for a nine-yard touchdown. That was quite the drive from Williams, who made two key plays on third downs (including the TD).

12:58 — McCarthy and the Vikings went three and out to begin the game. McCarthy tried to scramble on third and short but couldn't get there.