Chicago Bears 2014 Schedule Release Primer

Dec 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detailed view of a Chicago Bears helmet and footballs before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The opponents have been known for some time, but there’s something special about putting them in order, seeing which games are in prime time and getting a rhythm to the season.  That’s what’s at stake in a few hours when the NFL unveils the 2014 schedule.  Here are a few important notes about the Bears opponents and the upcoming schedule release, which is just hours away.

The opponents: (Winning Percentage: 0.496, ranking 18th in the NFL)

Each year each team plays their division rivals home and away and then plays two divisions – one conference and one non-conference.  The final two games are made up of the like-finishers in the other conference divisions.  Since the Bears finished second in the NFC North and the Bears already play the NFC South, they’ll face the second place finishers in the NFC West and NFC East.

NFC North – Packers, Lions, Vikings twice each

NFC South – Falcons, Buccaneers, Panthers, Saints

AFC East – Patriots, Bills, Jets, Dolphins

Like finishers in other NFC Divisions – 49ers and Cowboys

Home Games: 

We know that every year new teams emerge and previous season’s contenders fade into oblivion, so take it with a grain of salt, but the Bears actually have a fairly easy home schedule.  The only winning teams they’ll face at Soldier Field are the 8-7-1 Packers and the 11-5 New Orleans Saints.  You can’t take anyone for granted, but on the surface, this looks like it should be a 6-7 win home slate.

Packers

Lions

Vikings

Cowboys

Saints

Buccaneers

Bills

Dolphins