Bears 2026 Opponents

[adam]

Hopefully the Bears actually get 9 games at Soldier Field in 2026, but I would not be surprised if one ends up as an International game (like vs Jacksonville). 8 games against 2025 playoff teams (one being CAR). They have 5 tough non-divisional games (SEA, JAX, BUF, NE, and PHI), what I see as 3 easy games (NO, NYJ, and MIA), and 3 other games they should be favored in (TB, ATL, and CAR). 

I am thinking 4-2 in the Division. They are not losing to MIN with McCarthy, I think they split vs GB and DET next year at a minimum. No way DET wins 4 straight against Johnson. 3-0 in easy games, 2-1 in the other games makes you 9-3 with the 5 tough games. If you go 2-3 you're back to 11 wins, go 3-2, you are a 12-win team. So 10-12 seems like a fair range. 3 of the tough games are at home, which helps.

If this offense takes the normal 2nd year leap, and the defense just improves marginally, 10-12 wins should become the standard regardless of the schedule. 

I could see 7-2 at home, 4-4 on the road as a fair projection

HOME

Detroit Lions 9-8 - W
*Green Bay Packers 9-7-1 - W
Minnesota Vikings 9-8 - W
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-9 - W
*Philadelphia Eagles 11-6 - W
*Jacksonville Jaguars 13-4 - L
New York Jets 3-14 - W
*New England Patriots 14-3 - L
New Orleans Saints 6-11 - W

AWAY

Detroit Lions 9-8 - L
*Green Bay Packers 9-7-1 - L
Minnesota Vikings 9-8 - W
*Buffalo Bills 12-5 - L
Miami Dolphins 7-10 - W
Atlanta Falcons 8-9 - W
*Carolina Panthers 8-9 - W
*Seattle Seahawks 14-3 - L

[DABEARSDABOMB]

49 minutes ago, adam said:

Hopefully the Bears actually get 9 games at Soldier Field in 2026, but I would not be surprised if one ends up as an International game (like vs Jacksonville). 8 games against 2025 playoff teams (one being CAR). They have 5 tough non-divisional games (SEA, JAX, BUF, NE, and PHI), what I see as 3 easy games (NO, NYJ, and MIA), and 3 other games they should be favored in (TB, ATL, and CAR). 

I am thinking 4-2 in the Division. They are not losing to MIN with McCarthy, I think they split vs GB and DET next year at a minimum. No way DET wins 4 straight against Johnson. 3-0 in easy games, 2-1 in the other games makes you 9-3 with the 5 tough games. If you go 2-3 you're back to 11 wins, go 3-2, you are a 12-win team. So 10-12 seems like a fair range. 3 of the tough games are at home, which helps.

If this offense takes the normal 2nd year leap, and the defense just improves marginally, 10-12 wins should become the standard regardless of the schedule. 

I could see 7-2 at home, 4-4 on the road as a fair projection

HOME

Detroit Lions 9-8 - W
*Green Bay Packers 9-7-1 - W
Minnesota Vikings 9-8 - W
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-9 - W
*Philadelphia Eagles 11-6 - W
*Jacksonville Jaguars 13-4 - L
New York Jets 3-14 - W
*New England Patriots 14-3 - L
New Orleans Saints 6-11 - W

AWAY

Detroit Lions 9-8 - L
*Green Bay Packers 9-7-1 - L
Minnesota Vikings 9-8 - W
*Buffalo Bills 12-5 - L
Miami Dolphins 7-10 - W
Atlanta Falcons 8-9 - W
*Carolina Panthers 8-9 - W
*Seattle Seahawks 14-3 - L

I see the macro view as the offense will take strides to be better and I'd hope the defense would also be better, but I'd also expect turnovers to come back, which might mean as a whole the defense stands par for the course but in a more sustainable way...with an improved defense overall offsetting loss of the ball bouncing there way a few times...than we see a step or two up on the offense and more consistent high end offensive play.  Tougher competition too...which might mean....11/12 wins against tougher competition looks similar in record to what we did this year...but as a stronger, better positioned team for the long-run.  

But that is my last and only post on next year until this season ends...and hopefully that isn't until they are holding the lombardi trophy

[adam]

29 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

I see the macro view as the offense will take strides to be better and I'd hope the defense would also be better, but I'd also expect turnovers to come back, which might mean as a whole the defense stands par for the course but in a more sustainable way...with an improved defense overall offsetting loss of the ball bouncing there way a few times...than we see a step or two up on the offense and more consistent high end offensive play.  Tougher competition too...which might mean....11/12 wins against tougher competition looks similar in record to what we did this year...but as a stronger, better positioned team for the long-run.  

But that is my last and only post on next year until this season ends...and hopefully that isn't until they are holding the lombardi trophy

I agree, we can hold off until we are discussing what to do at pick 32.

[Stinger226]

Coming with first in the division gets us more winning teams. We have the worst schedule last year in winning percentage for teams as a bad team. I'll take what being better gives us.

[Mongo3451]

14 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Coming with first in the division gets us more winning teams. We have the worst schedule last year in winning percentage for teams as a bad team. I'll take what being better gives us.

I'm with you. 

On a side note: we were supposed to get an easier schedule, but ended playing the hardest on the NFL.  Goes to show how quickly things can change.

[BearFan PHX]

I like a hard schedule. Makes you ready for the playoffs.