Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarty will make his NFL debut on Monday night when he visits Chicago to take on the Bears at Soldier Field.
McCarthy, a first-round pick of the Vikings last year, grew up a Bears fan in the western suburbs of Chicago, and a picture of a four-year-old McCarthy decked out in Bears gear at Soldier Field surfaced on the internet this week, courtesy of Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins:
This is J.J. McCarthy at his first NFL game. He was 4 years old. The Bears hosted the Vikings that day. Monday night will be a full circle moment for McCarthy and his family. pic.twitter.com/6C3rn6zTk0
— Chip Scoggins (@chipscoggins) September 3, 2025Ironically, that photo was taken on October 14, 2007, just before the Vikings spoiled a young McCarthy’s first Bears game. This brings us to the return of “Bears Rewind,” the first installment of the 2025 season.
Vikings 34, Bears 31 — October 14, 2007
Chicago came into its Week 6 matchup against the Vikings with momentum, having beaten the Packers the week prior, while Minnesota limped in at 1-3 after three straight close losses. Soldier Field had long been a tough stop for the Vikings, and the Bears entered as favorites.
The afternoon started perfectly for Chicago. In peak form, Devin Hester electrified the crowd with an 89-yard punt return touchdown to give them an early lead. But the Vikings struck back when Tarvaris Jackson found Troy Williamson on a 60-yard play-action strike, knotting the score at 7-7 after one quarter.
Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears celebrates in the end zone after catching an 81 yard touchdown pass in the 4th quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on October 14, 2007 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Vikings defeated the Bears 34-31. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)Chicago regained control early in the second. Quarterback Brian Griese connected with receiver Bernard Berrian for a 39-yard touchdown after Antoine Winfield slipped in coverage, putting the Bears back on top. But the game began to turn when Vikings running back Adrian Peterson announced himself in a big way. On a run that looked bottled up, Peterson shook off safety Brandon McGowan, cut across the field, and outran everyone for a 67-yard score. Suddenly, it was 14-14 at halftime.
Chicago’s defense had no answers for Peterson in the second half. He added a 73-yard touchdown in the third quarter and later ripped off a 35-yarder in the fourth, extending Minnesota’s lead to 31-17. What should’ve been a comfortable finish for the Vikings turned into chaos when the Lovie Smith-led team refused to quit.
Griese hit Muhsin Muhammad for a 33-yard touchdown to pull within seven. Then, after a defensive stop, he went deep again—this time to Hester. Somehow, the speedster slipped behind Dwight Smith, and Griese dropped in an 81-yard strike to tie the game at 31 with less than two minutes left. Soldier Field was rocking, and all the momentum was back with Chicago.
But Peterson wasn’t done. Returning the ensuing kickoff, he gashed the Bears’ coverage unit straight up the gut, setting up the Vikings at the Chicago 38. That return set the stage for Ryan Longwell’s game-winning 55-yard field goal with seconds remaining, sealing a 34-31 heartbreak for the Bears.
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