The Chicago Bears schedule is said to be one of the most difficult in the NFL this season. It certainly didn't start the way they wanted with the opening night loss to Green Bay. Things aren't likely to get much easier with Vic Fangio and the Denver Broncos looming in Week 2. Even so, not all is doom and gloom for the Bears. The defense looks like it will be elite again this year. Allen Robinson is regaining his star form. If they can clean up the sloppiness on offense, they should be able to win.
They also got some welcome news from elsewhere. The biggest being in Oakland where the Raiders finally couldn't take it anymore and cut Antonio Brown. Regardless of his obvious loose cannon personality, he would've been a major headache for the Bears when they play Oakland in London on October 6th. Him being gone makes their job of containing Derek Carr and that Raiders offense that much easier.
This isn't the only piece of good news though. Another upcoming AFC West opponent may be shorthanded as well. The Los Angeles Chargers are about to forge ahead with their 2019 season without star running back Melvin Gordon. He's been holding out all summer over desires for a new contract. Now word is filtering out that it could stay that way into November. Great news for the Bears since they play L.A. on October 27th.
Chicago Bears schedule may be breaking just enough for them
Right now the Bears are wisely focused on Denver, as they should be. That said, things look far more manageable looking ahead. Washington, Minnesota, Oakland, and L.A. are the next four opponents in line. If head coach Matt Nagy can get the offense straightened out and the defense plays like it did vs. the Packers, there is no reason to think the Bears can't win three of those four games and be right back in the thick of the NFC race.
Can they win in Denver too? It won't be easy. Fangio is, of course, a defensive savant and has a lethal pass rush duo of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Opponents also struggle up in that stadium, especially early in the year. The Broncos have lost just twice at home in the first two weeks of a season in the past 12 years. If Chicago wants to buck that trend, they'll have to do it by matching with their own defense. In this case, making life difficult for Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco.
Regardless, the Bears have no excuses. They're too good a football team to get off to 1-3 or even winless September.
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