J.J. McCarthy debut set to take place in primetime, eliminating potential bad weather game late in the Vikings' season

The Minnesota Vikings are going to be featured on multiple occasions this year across the National Football League and it's set to start right away in week one. According to multiple reports and confirmed by The Star Tribune's Ben Goessling, the Vikings will be taking on the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football to open the season.

Yes, that means quarterback J.J. McCarthy is going to have his NFL debut on Monday Night Football.

J.J. McCarthy to make NFL debut on Monday Night Football

It's a tall order to make your debut on Monday Night Football, but one that isn't unprecedented. Sam Darnold made his NFL debut on Monday Night Football in 2018 against the Detroit Lions and his first pass was an interception. They went on to win the game, but it's difficult from a coverage standpoint to have that happen, as whatever you end up doing will be extrapolated.

It's also interesting that we won't just get a McCarthy debut, but also the debut of Bears head coach Ben Johnson. He took over as head coach after the Detroit Lions' season ended and there is a lot of hype around the Bears this season.

This also isn't the first time the Vikings have began the season on Monday Night Football. They have done so four times before with the last being in 2015.

• 1972: 24-21 loss vs. Washington Commanders
• 2006: 19-16 win @ Washington Commanders
• 2008: 24-19 loss @ Green Bay Packers
• 2015: 20-3 loss @ San Francisco 49ers

This is also the 19th time the Vikings will be facing the Bears on Monday Night Football with a 10-8 record all-time. They met last December on Monday night where the Vikings won 30-12 and in November of 2023 where they loss 12-10.

Playing on Monday night is going to be relatively frustrating for fans, as they have to wait an extra day to enjoy the first game of the season. However, having the game on Monday night will allow the fanbase to enjoy the entire slate of games.

It also prevents the Vikings from having a bad weather game in Soldier Field late in the season. That's huge for the Vikings for trying to win the division.