The first thing I look for when I set my eyes on the freshly minted Bears season schedule is who they play the very first game of the season against and when.
The second thing I look at when the NFL releases the Bears schedule is what week is the bye. The NFL has done the Bears a big favor by putting it smack dab in the middle of the season at week 9. This will give the beloved time to heal from the first half of pounding, and also regroup with some self scouting to shore tings up for a playoff run in the second half of the season. The Bears have been fortunate with the bye week placement in recent seasons.
The third thing I am interested in is when do they play their division foes. I then check the opponent from the week prior as well as their opponents and see if there’s some advantage or disadvantage. Like if they’re playing a tough opponent on two weeks rest while the Bears are coming off a short week. I also look at travel distance, put it all together, blend it up in my mind and try to calculate the odds of victory or defeat.
The fourth thing on my mind is how many national games are they scheduled for. Particularly night games when they’re the only show in town. This usually tells me if the league views the Bears favorably or unfavorably. In this case favorably as the Bears play 5 national games, and four of them under the lights.
This is a direct indicator that the Bears are very highly regarded by the league and feel there will be national interest to get their numbers up. It doesn’t hurt that the Bears are in the third largest market in the United States with a huge national fan-base that travels well. While this is not a revelation for even the most common fan, it is however a very good sign that optimism for the Bears is not only okay, but justified.
Ever since the last game, we as Bears fans have waited for how the off-season will play out and see if this roster might actually be able to contend for the post season. I know I have. Well a good off-season dabbling in the free agent market has gone a long way to gaining our trust. They actually do see the same games we do.
The Bears have addressed needs while acquiring some good veterans, but also young talent in their prime at premium cost while still leaving themselves in a very good cap situation. Now it’s draft time, and by all indicators this draft has everything needed in it to fill in most of the gaps that remain. Also the Bears have an extra first rounder of sorts in Kevin White along with a total of 9 picks in the draft, and the resources to acquire more veterans, and un-drafted free agents to their heart’s content. I think after the first draft most of us trust that Ryan Pace and the Bears know what they’re doing in that department too.
Clearly this was what the league was seeing along with the respect it rightfully gives the coaching staff and management for being able to recognize, acquire, and develop talent. So Bear fans do not hide your optimism in the closet for fear of being smacked down by your friends, family, social media cohorts, and neighbors for being a fan-boy nit-wit. Express your optimism freely and rejoice, because the National Football League has your back.