The Chicago Bears 2017 NFL schedule may not be official yet, but it's now public knowledge courtesy of Brad Biggs from the Chicago Tribune. First thing to be taken away from the entire slate. John Fox will either rescue his job or get fired in the first two months. The first eight games of the season for Chicago can be generously called "difficult."
Or murderous. Depends on the point of view.
Still it's hard not to feel a little cheated knowing the Bears will face three playoff teams in their first four games. That includes an opener at Soldier Field against the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons. From there into October it doesn't relent with back-to-back games against top defenses in Minnesota and Baltimore before having to tangle with MVP quarterbacks Cam Newton and Drew Brees.
The First Half
The Bears would be lucky to finish that run 4-4 given what is currently known about the team. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Four of their final eight games will be against teams that had losing records. This includes two of the worst in the NFL in the 49ers and Browns. They'll also play both their games against the Detroit Lions, a team they proved capable of beating last year. The tricky part is that four of their final six games will be on the road. It starts with a reunion with Alshon Jeffery in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving. Two weeks later it's off to Cincinnati, then Detroit the week after that. The season will conclude on New Years Eve in Minnesota against the Vikings. A place they have struggled mightily to win for years.
The Second Half
At the end of the day every schedule is difficult in the NFL. The Bears supposedly had the second-easiest in 2016 and they went 3-13 anyway. These are their games. Nothing will change that. If they want to prove that they are a team ready to compete in the big picture, then they'll have to prove it.
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