Ryan Poles Gives Specific Reason He Loves Bears' 2023 Schedule

The Chicago Bears knew their list of opponents for the 2023 season months ago. What they had yet to find out was where and when they will be playing those teams. Things like the longest road stretch and potential primetime games were something to unearth. The NFL finally released the schedule on May 11th. GM Ryan Poles' reaction to it might differ somewhat from common Bears fans. While their emotions likely ranged from anger to annoyance, he felt something different. Satisfaction.

Pole appeared on ESPN 100 with Bleck & Abdalla to discuss a variety of topics. They talked about the ongoing concerns at pass rusher, Poles' philosophy for building a roster, and thoughts on Soldier Fields. When the topic of the schedule came up, the Bears GM stated he loved how things turned out. His reasoning might not be what you think.

Poles understands the Bears have a young, somewhat inexperienced roster. So getting them in positions to play on national television against some tough opponents like the Chargers, Commanders, and Vikings is a great way to help them learn how to handle big moments.

Ryan Poles needs to see how his players respond to the lights.

Playing at noon on Sunday is fine, but nothing tests the mental fortitude of a team more than playing at night when all of America is watching. Chicago played in three primetime games last season. They went 1-2 in those contents. While they had a great showing in New England against the Patriots, they suffered two ugly losses to Washington and Green Bay. This year could be different. They've added several new pieces to the roster that should've improved both their front-line talent and depth.

If Matt Eberflus does a good job coaching everybody up, this team can surprise people. Ryan Poles is clearly excited about the prospects. He promised to build this team the right way. It would take time, but we should start seeing the fruits of that labor this season. A great way to send a message would be taking down the Green Bay Packers on opening day, claiming their first victory against the arch-rival since 2018. If the Bears respond to the big moments well, their future is bright.