The Chicago Bears schedule is ready for what's sure to be a rebuilding season underneath new common supervisor Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus.
That mentioned, the Bears nonetheless get the nationwide highlight just a few occasions this season with three prime-time video games — together with one towards the rival Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Right here’s how our trio of Bears reporters sees the season enjoying out.
Week 1: Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers
Sunday, Sept. 11, midday, FOX-32
So as to soar up 9 slots within the 2021 draft, the 49ers traded their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 plus a 2021 third-round choice to the Miami Dolphins. That was an costly vote of confidence from common supervisor John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan in quarterback Trey Lance, whom the 49ers chosen at No. 3. Might this be Lance’s first NFL begin? At Soldier Area? In a showdown towards fellow Class of 2021 quarterback Justin Fields? (Oh, yeah, this may also be the Bears’ house opener, elevating the curtain on the Eberflus period.)
Tribune picks:
- Brad Biggs: 49ers
- Colleen Kane: 49ers
- Dan Wiederer: 49ers
Week 2: Bears at Inexperienced Bay Packers
Sunday, Sept. 18, 7:20 p.m., NBC-5
Eberflus higher have his H.I.T.S. precept absolutely engrained by the tip of August. The brand new coach’s first try to decelerate Aaron Rodgers comes early. Together with the playoffs, Rodgers is 23-5 as a starter towards the Bears. That features a 12-1 mark in video games at Lambeau Area that he has each began and completed. (Rodgers left a Week 9 loss to the Bears in 2013 with a damaged collarbone.) Rodgers additionally has proven a knack for embarrassing the Bears on the Sunday evening stage, beating them six occasions in six tries with 4 of these victories by double digits.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Packers
- Kane: Packers
- Wiederer: Packers
Week 3: Bears vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, Sept. 25, midday, CBS-2
Lovie Smith went 0-2 towards the Bears as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, together with a 21-13 loss in his return to Soldier Area in November 2014. Now he’s beginning anew in Houston and dealing with an uphill battle with a Texans staff that went 8-25 during the last two seasons and is broadly thought of one of many NFL’s three worst. Carpe diem, Bears. Carpe diem.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Bears
- Kane: Bears
- Wiederer: Bears
Week 4: Bears at New York Giants
Sunday, Oct. 2, midday, FOX-32
The Bears have used the Giants as a ache reliever in three of the final 4 seasons. Win. Win. Win. Albeit in video games that had minimal leisure worth. Final season’s Week 17 assembly at Soldier Area was a 29-3 blowout through which the Giants completed with minus-6 internet passing yards. Might this early-October journey be a part of a welcome early stretch that gives a chance to construct momentum and perception? Or will Brian Daboll, a candidate for the Bears teaching job final winter, have the Giants offense rolling?
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Giants
- Kane: Bears
- Wiederer: Giants
Week 5: Bears at Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, Oct. 9, midday, FOX-32
The Bears haven’t traveled to the Twin Cities earlier than Thanksgiving since 2006. This season they’ll lastly get a sampling of what fall is like in Minneapolis. This may also be the Bears’ first have a look at a Vikings group that went into full reboot mode in January, hiring Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their GM and Kevin O’Connell as coach.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Vikings
- Kane: Vikings
- Wiederer: Vikings
Week 6: Bears vs. Washington Commanders
Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:15 p.m., Prime Video
If anybody ought to have a full understanding of tips on how to fluster new Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz, it’s Eberflus and Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams, who noticed Wentz in follow day-after-day final season with the Indianapolis Colts. Wentz, it ought to be famous, is 3-0 all time as a starter towards the Bears. In one other head-scratching and dispiriting trivia nugget, the Bears are 1-8 towards Washington at Soldier Area since successful Tremendous Bowl XX.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Bears
- Kane: Bears
- Wiederer: Bears
Week 7: Bears at New England Patriots
Monday, Oct. 24, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
This “Monday Night time Soccer” contest at Gillette Stadium will showcase Fields versus Mac Jones in a rematch of the January 2021 school soccer nationwide title sport. (Jones and Alabama downed Fields and Ohio State 52-24.) For what it’s price, the Bears haven’t crushed the Patriots since 2000, again Dick Jauron was their coach, Shane Matthews was beginning at quarterback and Tom Brady was simply an obscure rookie backup in New England. Since then? The Patriots, with Brady on the steering wheel, have crushed the Bears 5 occasions in a row by a mean rating of 35-21. Brady threw for 1,595 yards with 14 landing passes in these matchups. However hey, a brand new period is upon us. Who is aware of, proper?
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Patriots
- Kane: Patriots
- Wiederer: Patriots
Week 8: Bears at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, Oct. 30, midday, FOX-32
Rookie defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker ought to be in midseason kind by this level, which is a should because the Bears head to Jerry World trying to sluggish an offensive fireworks present that includes Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz. In the meantime, younger defensive stars Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs have the Cowboys eyeing a Tremendous Bowl run.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Cowboys
- Kane: Cowboys
- Wiederer: Cowboys
Week 9: Bears vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, Nov. 6, midday, CBS-2
Whereas Eberflus may face a steep uphill climb making an attempt to put in his program and alter the tradition in his first season, he ought to take solace that he's not alone in that mission. Greater than 1 / 4 of the groups within the league modified head coaches after final season, together with the Dolphins, who changed Brian Flores with Mike McDaniel.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Dolphins
- Kane: Dolphins
- Wiederer: Bears
Week 10: Bears vs. Detroit Lions
Sunday, Nov. 13, midday, FOX-32
The Lions have quietly positioned themselves to be playoff contenders with a promising nucleus of younger expertise that features first-round picks Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams in addition to offensive sort out Penei Sewell, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight finish T.J. Hockenson and cornerback Amani Oruwariye. Sure, they nonetheless want a plan at quarterback past Jared Goff. However there was a current surge of optimism in Detroit in regards to the route of issues underneath coach Dan Campbell.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Bears
- Kane: Bears
- Wiederer: Lions
Week 11: Bears at Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, Nov. 20, midday, FOX-32
The Falcons have two of probably the most thrilling younger pass-catching abilities within the league with tight finish Kyle Pitts and receiver Drake London. The massive query: Which Falcons quarterback will likely be throwing the ball in November? Bridge quarterback Marcus Mariota or rookie Desmond Ridder?
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Bears
- Kane: Bears
- Wiederer: Bears
Week 12: Bears at New York Jets
Sunday, Nov. 27, midday, FOX-32
The retooling Jets grabbed 4 thrilling gamers within the first 36 picks of final month’s draft. Cornerback Sauce Gardner, receiver Garrett Wilson, edge rusher Jermaine Johnson and operating again Breece Corridor determine to play distinguished roles in 2022 for a floundering franchise that's refilling on hope. After all, most of that hinges on the event of second-year quarterback Zach Wilson, who might be in line right here to be the third Class of 2021 first-round quarterback to go head-to-head with Fields.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Jets
- Kane: Bears
- Wiederer: Jets
Week 13: Bears vs. Inexperienced Bay Packers
Sunday, Dec. 4, midday, FOX-32
Aaron Rodgers’ area journey to Soldier Area final season appeared prefer it may be setting as much as be his remaining such tour to Chicago as Packers quarterback. As an alternative, Rodgers discovered 200 million causes to run it again for a minimum of one other couple of years. Ol’ No. 12 simply appears to have that knack for torturing Bears followers within the cruelest of how. In early December, followers within the lowest rows behind the tip zones at Soldier Area ought to have themselves prepared. Rodgers, as you in all probability know, has proven he’s keen to have interaction in a bit of back-and-forth.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Packers
- Kane: Packers
- Wiederer: Packers
Week 14: Bye
The Bears’ Week 14 bye is late — very late. So late, the truth is, that it’s the newest since 1999, which additionally got here in Week 14.
Week 15: Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, Dec. 18, midday, FOX-32
In an try to get younger quarterback Jalen Hurts the weaponry he wants, the Eagles acquired aggressive, buying and selling for A.J. Brown after which giving the big-play receiver a four-year, $100 million extension. Because the Bears proceed tweaking the perfect components for Fields’ improvement, Brown’s manufacturing is a minimum of price monitoring.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Bears
- Kane: Eagles
- Wiederer: Eagles
Week 16: Bears vs. Buffalo Payments
Saturday, Dec. 24, midday, CBS-2
Simply leaving this right here as a Christmas Eve stocking stuffer. Fields had a completion proportion of .589 and a passer ranking of 73.2 as a rookie, throwing for 1,870 yards with seven landing passes in 12 video games. Three years earlier, Payments quarterback Josh Allen had a completion proportion of .528 and a passer ranking of 67.9, throwing for two,074 yards with 10 landing passes in 12 video games. Now Allen is a favourite for league MVP honors and eyeing a attainable cost to the Tremendous Bowl. We’re not saying … we’re simply saying.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Payments
- Kane: Payments
- Wiederer: Payments
Week 17: Bears at Detroit Lions
Sunday, Jan. 1, midday, FOX-32
Joyful New Yr! The Bears have received at Ford Area 4 years in a row, and that is the staff’s solely highway sport after Week 12. Who is aware of? Possibly this turns into a part of a stable end that propels a younger Bears staff into 2023 with momentum and confidence.
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Lions
- Kane: Lions
- Wiederer: Bears
Week 18: Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date/time TBD
The Bears and Vikings have turn out to be shut season-finale buddies, assembly on the ultimate Sunday of the common season seven occasions during the last 11 years. This time, nonetheless, Soldier Area would be the stage for the finale. Will there be something at stake in addition to draft positioning?
Tribune picks:
- Biggs: Bears
- Kane: Bears
- Wiederer: Vikings
Season predictions
Brad Biggs: 6-11
There ought to be nice buildup for the season opener towards the 49ers for a sport between franchises that traded as much as draft quarterbacks in 2021 — and took very completely different approaches in getting ready their sign caller. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was adamant Trey Lance, the No. 3 choose, would be taught behind Jimmy Garoppolo. The Bears have been compelled to show to Justin Fields in Week 2 when Andy Dalton was injured after which caught with him till he was sidelined with an damage. Fields has extra expertise, together with on the school degree, whereas Lance is on a much better roster.
New coach Matt Eberflus will get a fast indoctrination into the staff’s rivalry with the Packers in Week 2. 4 of the final 5 Bears coaches have received their first sport at Lambeau Area, and Matt Nagy misplaced by just one level.
After alternating between away and residential video games each week final season, the Bears play on the highway in 4 of 5 video games in October with the one house date Oct. 13 towards the Washington Commanders in Week 6. That’s going to place stress on a younger staff, particularly with video games towards two 2021 playoff groups, the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.
Every week 14 bye on the weekend of Dec. 11 is suboptimal, however Eberflus and employees will get a mini-bye in October with 11 days between the Commanders and a “Monday Night time Soccer” sport towards the Patriots on Oct. 24.
The event of Fields will likely be certainly one of if not an important storyline. The Bears play three different quarterbacks drafted in 2021 in addition to Lance: Davis Mills of the Texans (Week 3), Mac Jones of the Patriots (Week 7) and Zach Wilson of the Jets (Week 12). These head-to-head battles will likely be measuring sticks.
Colleen Kane: 7-10
The Bears’ power of schedule is tied for twenty fourth within the league, in keeping with NFL.com, so maybe there’s a chance for a largely unproven group of gamers and coaches to tug off a few shock wins. However there’s a lot unknown about this staff, together with the place Justin Fields’ improvement is headed underneath new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, whether or not Fields can succeed with the present group of linemen and receivers and the way a protection with out Khalil Mack takes form underneath Eberflus. It’s onerous to foretell something apart from a shedding document within the first 12 months of Poles’ reworking undertaking.
Eberflus doesn’t have a simple first two video games out of the gate towards the 49ers after which the Packers at Lambeau Area. However Fields and firm ought to have a pleasant three weeks to settle in after that and put together for a key stretch that features two prime-time video games, together with one towards the Patriots and second-year quarterback Mac Jones in New England, adopted by a highway sport towards the Cowboys.
The Bears a minimum of have a mini-bye in October — 11 days between the Thursday and Monday evening video games — as a result of a Week 14 bye week is tough for a brand new coach and younger staff.
It’s odd the NFL scheduled just one highway sport over the ultimate six weeks of the season, a quirk that might be nice for the Bears and their followers if the staff might stay within the playoff hunt late into December and January. If not, braving the chilly at Soldier Area on Christmas Eve towards the Payments or within the finale towards the Vikings won't be very interesting.
Dan Wiederer: 5-12
It’s straightforward to take a look at the Bears schedule and determine home windows of alternative. An opportunity for a faster-than-expected begin? Positive. It’s not unreasonable for the Bears to be aggressive sufficient to win three of their first six. A late-season stretch through which they play just one highway sport after Thanksgiving weekend? That units up a doubtlessly comforting end. And man, this 12 months’s listing of opposing beginning quarterbacks is nowhere close to as intimidating as final season’s. OK. Suppose optimistic. Maybe this received’t be as painful of a season because it appeared.
However then? Nicely, actuality speaks up. In a daring and uncertain tone.
Seven of the Bears’ 17 video games will likely be performed towards opponents who made the playoffs final season. Twelve will come towards foes who had extra wins than they did a 12 months in the past. And that was earlier than a front-office and training employees reboot at Halas Corridor triggered a roster-gutting undertaking that has put the staff within the earliest levels of a demanding and tedious rebuild. The Bears roster, as presently constructed, is nowhere close to as gifted or sturdy because the one which contributed to a 6-11 end final season.
Moreover, the Bears will play 4 October highway video games with journeys to face the Giants, Vikings, Patriots and Cowboys throughout a demanding 28-day window. That stretch not solely figures to check the persistence of a fan base more and more on edge however must also reveal Eberflus’ means to regular a rocking ship.
Via a rational lens, the 50,000-foot view stays the identical. This figures to be an extended season. As outcomes go, this units as much as be a transition season that doubtless will likely be low on landmark moments and signature victories.
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