Going into the 2026 NFL schedule release, everyone understood that the Chicago Bears had the toughest opponents in the NFL, and the possibility of them finishing worse than 11-6 is real, but it might end up being a complete nightmare.
ESPN NFL reporter Dan Graziano wrote an article reacting to the schedule release, asking whether a specific statement was an overreaction. One of the statements was "the Bears will miss the postseason." Graziano did not think that was an overreaction.
"The last team to win a playoff game after entering the season with the hardest schedule by that metric was the 2016 Falcons. Over the past 10 seasons, seven of those teams missed the playoffs entirely. Plus, the Bears won an NFC North division in which literally every other team had a winning record last season. The Lions and Vikings should bounce back to contender status, and the Packers were a playoff team last season along with the Bears. Chicago plays all three of those teams -- plus the Bills -- over the final month of the season. The division and the schedule look tough enough that it wouldn't be a surprise if the Bears take a step back -- albeit a temporary one -- in 2026. Remember how we all felt about the Commanders this time last year? Progress is not always linear, and the 5-12 Commanders of 2025 are a testament to that after they reached the NFC Championship Game in quarterback Jayden Daniels' 2024 rookie season."
Could the Bears actually miss the 2026 postseason?
The Bears absolutely have a brutal schedule that includes back-to-back matchups against the Super Bowl participants from a few months ago. They also close the season out against all three of the NFC North.
There is a strong chance the Bears will have a tough time winning 11 games again, but saying they will miss the postseason altogether shows little faith in them. This is one of the best young rosters in the NFL, with multiple players who ensure a solid future over the next few years.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson took a roster that went 5-12 in 2024, had a 10-game losing streak, and transformed them into playoff contenders. Johnson got Caleb Williams playing at an MVP level and coached the team to making an NFL record seven comebacks and game-winning drives.
Read more: One picture certainly spoke the 1,000 words Bears fans needed to hear
Maybe the Bears won't quite win 11 games, but this is a playoff team that will be in the conversation late in the season and is a Super Bowl contender.
Add us as a preferred source on Google