"Sometimes, I think we make too much of strength of schedule based on the previous year's records. If you'll recall, the Bears' 2025 list of opponents featured six teams that went to the playoffs the prior season and seven teams that finished above .500. It was supposed to make for tough sledding. And yet, Chicago held its own by going 5-5 against 2024's playoff teams and 3-2 against teams that qualified for the postseason in 2025."
"HOME: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints. The good news is that the Bears have an extra home game during the regular season. But the bad (?) news is that they could lose it to an international game. On the one hand, I don't love the idea of losing a home game to the league's international series."
The Chicago Bears enter the 2026 NFL season with the league's toughest strength of schedule. Opponents include divisional rivals Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota and non-division homes like Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, the New York Jets, New England and New Orleans. The Bears previously faced a difficult 2025 slate yet managed solid results against playoff teams, finishing 5-5 versus 2024 playoff squads and 3-2 against 2025 postseason qualifiers. Chicago has an extra regular-season home game that could be converted into an international contest, with the possibility of playing abroad such as in Spain.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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