The Chicago Bears 2020 schedule is out. Now the preparations can truly begin for how the team is going to tackle it. Head coach Matt Nagy is likely to employ the classic one-game-at-a-time approach. Every week the team is 0-0 looking to get their first win. Not a bad strategy since its a great way to prevent a team from looking ahead and getting caught in trap games.
That said, when one looks at the schedule in its entirety one can't help but gauge how things may go. Sure there are unpredictable factors. Especially injuries. Still, how could things go if the team stays reasonably healthy? That is what we'll do here. A full breakdown of all 16 games, which ones the Bears will win, and which ones they won't.
Then when the dust settles, did they do enough to make the playoffs?
Chicago Bears have a big chance to start off hot
Week 1 - at Detroit Lions
The Lions will have Matthew Stafford back, which is something that should not be ignored. The Bears haven't had an opening day win since 2013. That said they're 4-0 against Detroit in the past two years. This defensive pass rush is upgraded and the Lions have some question marks up front.
Result: Win
Week 2 - vs. New York Giants
New York has high hopes for their team this year as Daniel Jones prepares to begin his second season at quarterback. The problem is he's doing it with a brand new coaching staff and system. If the Bears can keep Saquon Barkley under control and put the game in his hands, he's prone to making mistakes. It's also fair to wonder if that Giants defense has gotten better at all.
Result: Win
Week 3 - at Atlanta Falcons
A good early test for the Bears. The Falcons can never be taken lightly because of Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and that offense. However, their defense is another matter. It's really struggled the past couple of seasons. Crowd noise likely won't be an issue since Bears fans have swarmed that stadium before. This is a winnable game if the offense can do their part.
Result: Win
Week 4 - vs. Indianapolis Colts
People can laugh at the idea of Philip Rivers being the Colts' new quarterback but the Bears lost to him and the Chargers last season. Indianapolis has a strong defense and a very good offensive line with plenty of speed to go around. This is probably going to be the first true measuring stick for where this team is at and where they still might have to go.
Result: Win
Week 5 - vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady is a Buccaneer now. Even at 43-years old he's the GOAT. Not only that but Tampa Bay has done a tremendous job surrounding him with as many weapons as possible. Combine that with a revved-up pass rush on defense and the fact Chicago has never beaten Brady? It would take an unexpectedly disciplined and gutty performance to pull this one out.
Result: Loss
Week 6 - at Carolina Panthers
This isn't the old Panthers team you're thinking of. Cam Newton is gone. Greg Olsen is gone. Luke Kuechly is gone. The vaunted core that sent that franchise to a Super Bowl in 2015 has departed. It is a team with a new coaching staff and a new quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater beat the Bears last year, but he won't have near the supporting cast this time around.
Result: Win
Week 7 - at Los Angeles Rams
Speaking of a team that underwent massive changes. The Rams, crushed by salary cap problems, basically gutted a huge part of their roster this offseason. Dante Fowler left for free agency. Clay Matthews was cut. Eric Weddle retired. Cory Littleton left for free agency. Brandin Cooks was traded. Todd Gurley was cut. They've lost a lot. It's not the same team that beat the Bears last season.
Result: Win
Week 8 - vs. New Orleans Saints
There's no doubt the Bears would love some revenge after the humiliation the Saints put them through at Soldier Field last year. The problem is New Orleans is just as good as they were last season. If not a little better. They're loaded offensively and have a strong pass rush. Such teams are hard to beat. Unless Nagy can put up some points, don't count on this one.
Result: Loss
Week 9 - at Tennessee Titans
This team just went to the AFC championship game. They're well-coached, tough, and talented. Now they did lose a number of key players, particularly on defense with cornerback Logan Ryan and defensive lineman Jurrell Casey departing. They also lost right tackle Jack Conklin. It's going to be a physical game that will depend heavily on how well the Bears can stop the run.
Result: Loss
Week 10 - vs. Minnesota Vikings
Divisional games are never easy and the Vikings probably would've hammered the Bears in the season finale had they played their starters. That said, this Minnesota team lost a lot of key guys. Everson Griffen, Stefon Diggs, Linval Joseph, Trae Waynes, and Xavier Rhodes standing out the most. They will be asking a lot of rookies to fill those voids. To say nothing if injuries strike elsewhere.
Result: Win
Week 11 - BYE
Week 12 - at Green Bay Packers
For the first time in what feels like ages, the Bears will actually go into Lambeau Field with some momentum at 7-3. They'll be fresh off the bye with that win over the Vikings providing an extra bit of motivation. Can they finally go into Green Bay and knock off the Packers? It's going to be a wild game with a tight final score. Per usual, it will rest on whether the offense shows up.
Result: Loss
Week 13 - Detroit Lions
With the Lions typically being the Lions by this point in the season, the Bears will have a chance to quickly bounce back after another tough loss to the Packers. Being at home will just add another advantage for them. If Detroit is facing a losing record, the odds are their coaching staff will be feeling the pressure like never before.
Result: Win
Week 14 - Houston Texans
It's amazing how much of a leash Texans head coach Bill O'Brien has. He basically gutted a huge chunk of his team's talented core the past two years. First by trading Jadeveon Clowney and now DeAndre Hopkins. The only reason this team will be favored is that they have Deshaun Watson. At the same time, he's behind a notoriously leaky offensive line. The Bears pass rush could put a hurtin' on him.
Result: Win
Week 15 - at Minnesota Vikings
By this point, expect the Vikings roster to be considerably more settled in. Minnesota is always a tough place for any team to play. The Bears have actually won there the past two seasons. Rest assured that is not the norm. This time around it'll be tougher sledding for them with an injury of some kind probably playing a prominent part.
Result: Loss
Week 16 - at Jacksonville Jaguars
It's incredible to think about where the Jaguars were in January of 2018, just one win away from the Super Bowl. Now here they are with most of their notable stars from that team either released or traded. Their hopes are pinned on second-year QB Gardner Minshew who doesn't have the most exciting lineup around him and a defense that is exceedingly young.
Result: Win
Week 17 - Green Bay Packers
The Bears got the Packers monkey off their back in 2018 at home to reach the playoffs. Can they do it again? It's hard to say. Beating Green Bay always feels like a chore for this team. Much of this will depend on where the two teams are at in record and health status. Not to mention the well-documented relationship between Aaron Rodgers and his head coach. If they're struggling down the stretch, things could blow up quickly.
Result: Win
Final record: 11-5
People can call this optimism if they like. This Bears football team is good enough to win 11 games. Especially with this current schedule set up the way it is. A strong start would give them lots of momentum going into the tough areas down the stretch. They were able to do it in 2018 and this roster might actually be deeper than that one. If they get even modest improvement on offense, this team will be in the playoffs.
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