The Bears didn’t just open the season with a win over the Carolina Panthers. They detonated one of the loudest offensive performances of Week 1, piling up 59 points in Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson’s second season together.
Now Chicago gets a chance to chase something even bigger in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings at home. According to ESPN research, the Bears can break the NFL record for the most points scored by a team through the first two games of a season if they put up 37 points against Minnesota.
“The Bears need 37 points to break the NFL record for most points scored in a team's opening two games, currently held by the 1968 Raiders (95),” ESPN research shared.
That number is within reach for an offense that looked explosive right out of the gate. The Bears already put 59 on the board in Week 1, and if they reach 37 against the Vikings, they would sit at 96 points through two weeks - a total no team has ever hit.
There’s even a bigger number in play. If Chicago scores 41 points in Week 2, it would become the first team in NFL history to reach 100 points through just two games.
Of course, the matchup is not built for easy numbers. Minnesota’s defense is coordinated by Brian Flores, and the Flores-versus-Johnson chess match has already produced plenty of intrigue over the years. That makes 37 points a serious challenge, even for a Bears offense that has plenty going for it.
Still, Chicago has the kind of firepower that makes the idea feel at least possible. Caleb Williams is coming off that huge opener, the running back duo is elite, and the receiving corps gives the offense another dangerous layer. With a shaky defense of their own, the Bears may need Johnson and the offense to keep carrying the load.
Week 2 is a tough test. But if Chicago can get to 37, it will carve out a place in NFL history.
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Since then, Minnesota has already moved on to Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz on the depth chart, while Maye has gone to New England and immediately turned the Patriots into a problem for the rest of the league. After leading them to the Super Bowl and coming close to MVP-level recognition in his first full season as a starter, he is exactly the kind of quarterback what-if that can linger around a franchise for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Flores Faces A Tough Caleb Williams Decision For Bears Week 2
The Bears came out of Week 1 with a rushing performance that still has the Vikings paying attention, and the injury report adds another layer to the matchup. DAndre Swift and Kyle Monangai were both listed as limited during the week, while right tackle Darnell Wright moved from absence to limited participation, a small step forward after missing practice time.
For Brian Flores and Minnesotas defense, those statuses matter because Chicagos ground game could shape how much pressure the Vikings can bring elsewhere on the field. Even with the limited tags, the Bears still have enough uncertainty around their backfield and front line to make Week 2 a more complicated test than a simple follow-up to opening weekend. [Read more 🡒]