Next One Is Biggest for Bears

It's long been NFL tradition for players and coaches to say their biggest game is the next game.

Players and coaches say this because they don't want to be caught looking past the next opponent.

The 2023 Bears schedule is filled with games they might consider big, but the old axiom about the next game being biggest actually does hold true for the Bears.

A look at their schedule reveals the biggest game on the schedule is the season opener against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Sept. 10. It's bigger than any of the other 16 games.

The reason it's the biggest game is the pressure building for it. If they aren't ready for the opener, will they ever be ready?

They won't play in a game all year with more pressure in it unless they somehow find their way into the playoff chase.

The pressure is coming from various points for this opener.

1. The New Order

Ding Dong the witch isn't dead. He's just in New York now.

Without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers can't be sure what they have at quarterback for the first time since the start of the Brett Favre era in 1992. Quarterback is the reason they've dominated their series with the Bears and Jordan Love must prove he's their next in line before anything like that can be assumed again.

The Bears are actually favorites over Green Bay at home, but Bears fans shouldn't get too excited. They're only 2 1/2-point favorites and the home field is supposed to be worth three.

The Packers have won 13 of 14 and eight straight in the series. The Bears have won 15 and lost 47 against the Packers since Favre took over as starter in 1992, following a game in 1991 when Mike Tomczak started for Green Bay against his old team.

They managed to briefly gain a few wins toward the end of Favre's career before Rodgers became quarterback, and it's been misery for them since.

For the Bears, this can mean a period when no should assume they'll lose Green Bay again.

The problem with all of this for the Bears is they have to prove they deserve to be taken seriously when they're playing Green Bay. The opener is the first step toward this new NFC North order but if they don't win the first game the nay sayers will be out in droves.

2. Justin Fields

Fields has so much riding on this season and really this game. He hasn't beaten the Packers yet, never did beat Rodgers. The Bears need to see him take a step up and start winning games with consistency instead of making occasional big plays.

If he can't produce in the first game of the year when everyone is paying attention, the disappointment could be like a trap door opening to a bottomless pit.

3. Defensive Embarrassment

In Fields, the Bears at least know they have someone capable of big plays both with his legs and arm. It's cutting down on turnovers and keeping the chains moving where he must improve.

Their defense, however, is the real problem. In short, it was pitiful last season on the line and at linebacker.

No NFL team is going to give up yardage against the run the way the Bears did and succeed. Losing 10 straight should have been expected with the way they defended the run.

It obviously didn't help when they finished last in sacks, as well.

So they have revamped the defense entirely up front with two new defensive ends, two rookie defensive tackles, a veteran nose tackle and two free agent linebacker additions.

The problem with all of that is this group hasn't played together in this system and they'll be expected to be sharp enough immediately to prevent running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon from taking some of the pressure off their inexperienced QB.

If the Bears defense flops in the first game, the doubters will be everywhere just like they will be for Fields with a loss.

4. New Faces

With the first game comes the element of anticipation caused by new players. It's not just the Bears defense. DJ Moore's addition on offense, the new and improved Chase Claypool after he's had a season to work into the attack and Darnell Wright at right tackle are some of the changes GM Ryan Poles made on the offensive side. If they start the season after making all the changes they've made and the end result is the same, the heat can start to build.

5. Rivalry

It's the Packers.

6. Monotony

The Bears haven't won a football game since they stunned everyone by flattening Bill Belichick and the Patriots 33-14 in New England on Oct. 24. They actually had a winning record last season after three games and then lost 13 out of their last 14.

They badly need to win some games for the sake of confidence, and just to do something different for a change.

Later in the year, they might have a bigger game or some bigger games but as it stands now you'd have a hard time pointing at any other game on their schedule and saying it's bigger or a big. The opener is their biggest. And, coincidentally, it really is their next game.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven