The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are clearly the top rivalry in the NFC North and have very little in common. However, the first two weeks of the regular season have offered a common enemy as both teams sit at 1-1 courtesy of Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings. The defense of Brian Flores gave both teams fits and left Jordan Love and Caleb Williams consistently running for their lives and with no time to throw late in each game.
Minnesota sitting undefeated and at the top of the NFC North is unquestionably one of the bigger surprises of the first two weeks of the season. It seemed easy to count out the Vikings based on an underwhelming summer quarterback competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. The unexpected development of the Vikings taking control of the division early in the year has given hated rivals a common enemy.
While there is no doubting that Minnesota is off to an impressive start it is difficult to believe that this can be maintained. Looking at the roster it has taken a hot game from the inconsistent Wentz and an injury to Caleb Williams to set up the surprise two-game run. There simply isn't a viable reason to believe that this can be maintained.
Any of the trio of quarterbacks the Vikings have to offer are clearly inferior to Jordan Love, Jared Goff, and unquestionably Caleb Williams, who is expected to return far sooner than expected. No question, the Bears remain in great position for a season ahead that shouldn't favor the Vikings in the North despite the hot start.
Bears and Packers are for once on the same page with frustrating common enemy early in 2026 season
Minnesota has also clearly had an advantage in the fact the defense of Brian Flores have taken a unique approach. Both Love and Williams were under siege in a way you rarely see when it comes to the opposing pass rush. Flores is content daring you to hold the ball long enough to throw it over the top and beat an underwhelming secondary.
Two weeks in this has worked, but we have seen in years past that Flores can be figured out as seasons wear on. The Packers were caught off guard and this worked to the benefit of Chicago, until the same issue caught the Bears on what should be their worst offensive performance of the season.
Even with this in mind, there was a level of belief that Williams was going to find a way to complete the comeback and push the Bears to a late win. It feels this is the path we were walking prior to an injury that ended up giving hated rivals an early-season common enemy.
| More Bears on DaWindyCity |
Add us as a preferred source on Google