The NFL released its 2016 schedule on Thursday night and the Chicago Bears now know who stands in their way between them and a berth in the playoffs. The schedule has a few interesting nuggets including a Thursday night game at Lambeau Field and a Monday night game against the Minnesota Vikings on Halloween night. But the schedule is here, check it out below.
September 11: Chicago Bears at Houston Texans
September 19: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears (Monday Night Football)
September 25: Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football)
October 2: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
October 9: Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts
October 16: Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears
October 20: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (Thursday Night Football)
October 31: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (Monday Night Football)
November 6: Bye (Week 9)
November 13: Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
November 20: Chicago Bears at New York Giants
November 27: Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears
December 4: San Francisco 49ers at Chicago Bears
December 11: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
December 18: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
December 24: Washington Redskins at Chicago Bears
January 1: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
A few interesting nuggets to examine. Last year the Bears had the league minimum one nationally televised game. This year they have four. The NFL is showing a lot of confidence in Chicago that they are improving and will be competitive this season.
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The Bears have three divisional games in the last four weeks. If the Bears are in the hunt for the division title heading into December they are going to be able to control all or most of their destiny in terms of winning the division.
The Bears have an oddity mid-season. After the Thursday night game against the Packers, they don’t play again until Monday night football and then have a bye. The Bears will play one football game from October 21 to November 12. That is a tremendously long break and one the Bears could use to get healthy.
You have to play the games, but on paper, the Bears have one of the easier schedules you could possibly create. With the free agent acquisitions, Kevin White returning and hopefully another good draft class from Ryan Pace, the Bears could make significant strides this season and could push for the division title, or at least a playoff spot, if the ball bounces their way.