A great analysis of the NFL schedules over at SharpFootballAnalysis.com. Bears have 17th toughest schedule but have the 4th easiest in terms of opposing defenses. This bodes well for our offense,  it should really explode this year. Expect some high scoring games. 

Like the Panthers, the Bears’ offense might be able to capitalize on its early (Week 5) bye. Chicago has the NFL’s second-softest schedule through Week 10. They play five bottom-five teams during that span, although they are favored in just three of those games because the Bears are also viewed as a bottom-five team. Note that Chicago plays the NFL’s fourth-softest schedule of opposing defenses, including the fifth-easiest schedule of pass defenses after heavily upgrading their passing game in the offseason. 

 

Interesting note about our opponents defenses.    The Packers have pass rush issues and did nothing to address it, instead loading up on CBs early and WRs late.   They have Wilkerson inside which could help depending on which Wilkerson shows up.  But the edge of the defense remains a problem.  They can say the same about us but at least we put one late round pick on a solid prospect in Fitts.  Josh Jackson is a good zone CB, I'm not sure why they drafted him leaving Isaiah Oliver and Carlton Davis on the board, and Lorenzo Carter.     

Packers have been drafting CBs and Ss in the last 4 drafts and keep drafting them, says a lot about the quality of their picks. Did not address pass rush, should make them venerable .

54 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

Interesting note about our opponents defenses.    The Packers have pass rush issues and did nothing to address it, instead loading up on CBs early and WRs late.   They have Wilkerson inside which could help depending on which Wilkerson shows up.  But the edge of the defense remains a problem.  They can say the same about us but at least we put one late round pick on a solid prospect in Fitts.  Josh Jackson is a good zone CB, I'm not sure why they drafted him leaving Isaiah Oliver and Carlton Davis on the board, and Lorenzo Carter.     

After they made a try at getting Vic over as their new DC (upon the departure of Capers) they instead grabbed Mike Pettine.  He’s heralded as a decent DC who like Fangio, gets his defenses playing in the top 10.  I’m guessing he saw a need for more pass protection with having to see Stafford and  Cousins twice a year.  Hopefully Trubisky will give him fits too. 

Crazy thing about stats from last year, all of these teams strive to get better this year.  What I would to see is a three year trend of these defenses, with reasons why. Then we could glean something.

NFC North Defensive rankings  2015/2016/2017:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2015/opp.htm

Green Bay:    12th, 21st, 23rd

Detroit:    23rd, 13th,  21st

Vikings:    5th, 6th, 1st

Chicago:   20th,  24th,  9th