Report: Vikings to Close Season at Home Against Bears

TL;DR

The Minnesota Vikings will conclude their 2026 regular season with a home game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. This matchup marks a familiar ending, as the Vikings have often faced the Bears in their final home game since the stadium opened.

Key points

Vikings to finish 2026 season at home against Bears
Game will take place at U.S. Bank Stadium
Vikings have frequently faced Bears in final home games since 2016
Week 18 features divisional matchups
Packers and Lions expected to play in Week 18

Mentioned in this story

U.S. Bank Stadium

Minnesota VikingsChicago BearsGreen Bay PackersDetroit Lions

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 16: Jordan Addison #3 of the Minnesota Vikings catches a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images) | Getty Images We have our second Minnesota Vikings-related schedule leak ahead of Thursday’s formal release of the 2026 regular season slate, and it once again sees a familiar scenario for the Vikings to end a regular season with. Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star-Tribune is reporting that the Vikings will finish up the 2026 regular season with a home game at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Chicago Bears. This is how the Vikings finished the home slate for the first six seasons of U.S. Bank Stadium’s existence. Each season from 2016 to 2021, the final home game of the Vikings’ season was played against the Bears, with the game coming in the last week of the regular season in five of those six seasons (the 2020 Vikings had two road games after that final home game). Since all of the games in Week 18 of the regular season are divisional matchup, we can also conclude that the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions will be matching up in Week 18 as well. Since the schedule leaks have been limited to this point, we don’t know if that game will be in Detroit or as of right now. Will there be anything on the line when the Vikings and Bears get together at U.S. Bank Stadium to close out the regular season? Man. . .it sure would be nice if there was. If there are any more schedule leaks between now and the official release on Thursday, we’ll be bringing them to you as soon as we’re able. In the meantime, let us know what you think about potentially closing out the season at home against the Bears. . .again.

Q&A

When will the Minnesota Vikings play the Chicago Bears in 2026?

The Minnesota Vikings are scheduled to play the Chicago Bears at home in the final game of the 2026 regular season.

How many times have the Vikings ended their season against the Bears?

The Vikings have ended their regular season against the Bears in five out of six seasons since U.S. Bank Stadium opened in 2016.

What other teams will play in Week 18 of the NFL 2026 season?

In Week 18 of the 2026 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions are expected to play each other, as all games that week are divisional matchups.