The Chicago Bears host the Minnesota Vikings tonight in a game that features a pair of quarterbacks that were taken in the first round of the 2024 draft. Chicago’s Caleb Williams was the first overall selection, and the Vikings grabbed J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick. In fact, in the 2024 NFL draft six quarterbacks were taken in the first dozen selections.
Before Minnesota grabbed McCarthy with the tenth pick, the Washington Commanders had made Jayden Daniles the second overall selection and the New England Patriots took Drake Maye one choice later. That pick was followed by the Atlanta Falcons choosing Michael Penix with the eighth overall choice and with the twelfth pick in the first round the Denver Broncos brought Bo Nix to the Mile High City.
So, how has that quarterback rich draft worked out for the teams that brought in what they hope to become their franchise signal caller?
Pretty darn well.
Daniels had the best rookie season in history for a quarterback last season while leading the Commander all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Nix elevated Sean Payton’s Broncos to a postseason date in Buffalo. Penix is now the starter in Atlanta and Drake Maye has the same role with the Patriots in Foxboro.
Which brings us to the two field generals in action tonight.
In his rookie season, Williams had the struggles most rookies endure. He had some bright moments but also led a team to the cellar in the NFC North Division and was at the controls when the Bears lost ten straight games.
As for McCarthy, his first professional season was wiped out before it began. Injured during the preseason, McCarthy spent his rookie season out of action and carrying a clip board while in street clothes on the Vikings sideline.
While he was the projected starter last year in Minnesota, the Vikings instead were put in the hands of veteran Sam Darnold. The one-time third overall selection of the New York Jets was still looking for success in the NFL with his fourth team. He found it in Minnesota.
Darnold led the Vikings to 14 wins last season, only the 1998 Vikings won more games in franchise history. Still, despite his success working behind the Vikings offensive line, the organization didn’t resign Darnold and instead cast their fate into McCarthy’s hands.
What does that tell us?
Minnesota Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has confidence that McCarthy is the real deal based on his year of working with him even without any regular season action. You can tell a lot about an athlete without them taking the field. How they relate to their coaches and teammates and their work ethic was on display with McCarthy even though he wasn’t available to take a snap last year.
So here is what we’ve got tonight when the Bears and Vikings renew their long rivalry at Soldier Field. The Vikings are looking to build on their 14-win season with a new quarterback, and the Bears are looking to elevate themselves out of the NFC North Division cellar with new head coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears were installed a slight favorite on the opening line, but the books have moved the number to Minnesota now giving a point-and-one-half on the spread. Is that because the public is piling on the Vikings side of this play?
No.
In fact, the wagering on this contest is pretty much exactly where the books like it, split down the middle.
Tonight, we have a choice for a home team underdog on Monday night or a visitor that won nine more regular season games last season. If Williams takes advantage of his first-year experience and gets Johnson a win in his inaugural game as an NFL head coach, Chicago fans will be celebrating late into the night and into the morning hours in the Windy City.
If the Bears play like usual, they lose this game, and the Soldier Field crowd will march out of the stadium with the same heavy feeling that their team has routinely delivered since their Super Bowl winning season of 1985.
A primetime show to watch; not one to bet on.