Balanced Schedule for Bears in 2023

Even after a 3-14 season the Bears are on four prime-time games, but a fast start is critical.

 Most 3-14 teams could expect to be forgotten by networks and national media.

The 2023 Bears schedule clearly shows they've been labeled as a team to watch for the future. No one is getting too carried away with their chances of being a surprise team, but they have been put on four prime-time telecasts.

Clearly, they can thank Justin Fields for this.

The opponents were already known but the league released the schedule officially Thursday night after parts of it leaked out through the course of the day. The Bears play two Thursday night games, a Sunday and Monday night game. 

It starts with the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in a 3:25 p.m. Sunday game Sept. 10 and will conclude with the same Packers in Green Bay on a day and time yet to be provided because of league policy designed to give networks more significant games in the final week.

The Bears haven't played a day game in Green Bay since 2019 and it was the only one in the last 12 years.

They are at the Commanders Oct. 5 for their first prime-time game, then host the Carolina Panthers Nov. 9 in the other Thursday night game. Their Monday night game is Nov. 27 at Minnesota, in what shapes up as one of their most difficult tasks.

The Sunday night game is at Los Angeles against the Chargers Oct. 29.

They face Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert on the road, but this schedule is not an overwhelming one by any means.

The Bears' opponents had a combined 143-145-1 record last year, a .497 record that is tied for the 18th toughest schedule based on winning percentage. This much was well known already.

Things change from one year to the next in the NFL. The Bears' schedule includes eight games against teams ranked below them in the Pro Football Focus power rankings. The three NFC North teams are all ahead of them in those ratings but no more than five spots higher. That's six games against teams within striking distance besides the eight ranked lower. 

Their toughest stretch might be against divisional opponents. They face the Lions on the road Nov. 19, then their Monday night road game with the Vikings followed by a bye week. And they come off the bye with a home game against Detroit.

The Saints to Panthers and Broncos to Commanders flips from Sunday to Thursday games might be the most difficult aspects of the schedule. 

Playing four of their first six on the road won't be easy, either.

However, the Bears do get a weather break of sorts. Bear weather may be back en vogue. They host the Cardinals and Falcons Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, two warm-weather teams. And they also host the dome-bound Lions after the bye on Dec. 10.

Bears 2023 Schedule

Preseason

Week 1: Tennessee at Bears, Date, Time TBA

Week 2: Bears at Indianapolis, Date, Time TBA

Week 3: Buffalo at Bears, Date, Time TBA

Regular Season

Week 1 Green Bay at Bears, 3:25 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10

Week 2 At Tampa Bay, noon, Sunday, Sept. 17

Week 3 At Kansas City, 3:25 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 24

Week 4, Denver at Bears, Sunday, noon, Sunday, Oct. 1

Week 5, At Washington, Thursday, 7:15 p.m., Oct. 5

Week 6, Minnesota at Bears, Sunday, noon, Oct. 15

Week 7, Las Vegas at Bears, Sunday, noon, Oct. 22

Week 8, At L.A. Chargers, Sunday, 7:20 p.m., Oct. 29

Week 9, At New Orleans, Sunday, noon, Nov. 5

Week 10, Carolina at Bears, Thursday, 7:15 p.m., Nov. 9

Week 11, At Detroit, Sunday, noon, Nov. 19

Week 12, At Minnesota, Monday, 7:15 p.m., Nov. 27

BYE week 13, Dec. 3

Week 14, Detroit at Bears, Sunday, noon, Dec. 10

Week 15, At Cleveland, Sunday, TBA

Week 16, Arizona at Bears, Sunday, 3:25 p.m., Dec. 24

Week 17, Atlanta at Bears, Sunday, noon, Dec. 31

Week 18, At Packers, Jan. 7, TBA

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