The 2023
Chicago Bears schedule is set. Season opener against the rival Green Bay Packers. Season finale? Against the Packers. Sandwiched in between are 15 games that will determine the direction and momentum of the team’s resurgence effort. The Bears will play a pair of Thursday night games for the first time — in Weeks 5 and 10 — and have four prime - time games in all . Advertisement Here’s how our trio of Bears reporters sees the season playing out. Week 1: Bears vs. Green Bay Packers Packers quarterback Jordan Love throws during a game against the Eagles on Nov. 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP) Sunday, Sept. 10, 3:25 p.m., Fox-32 Advertisement Great news! Sources have confirmed to the Tribune that Jordan Love doesn’t own anything in or around downtown Chicago. The law of averages also suggests the Packers’ new QB1 couldn’t possibly emerge as one of the league’s top stars for the next decade or longer. So maybe Bears fans can breathe a sigh of relief. And perhaps this rivalry will become legitimately competitive again. Tribune picks Brad Biggs: Packers Colleen Kane: Bears Dan Wiederer: Bears Week 2: Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers New Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield enjoys a moment during his introductory news conference. (Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS) Sunday, Sept. 17, noon, Fox-32 The Bears’ last trip to Raymond James Stadium was a horror show, a 38-3 loss during the team’s 2021 nosedive. But these aren’t Tom Brady’s Bucs. They’re Baker Mayfield’s squad now with Tampa, Fla., becoming the fourth stop for Mayfield in the last two years. Maybe those red-zone pirate-ship cannons will be a little quieter this trip. Maybe this will be an early-season opportunity to build momentum. Tribune picks Biggs: Bears Kane: Bears Wiederer: Buccaneers Week 3: Bears at Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Chiefs' win against the Eagles in the
Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (Matt Slocum/AP) Sunday, Sept. 24, 3:25 p.m., CBS-2 According to esteemed
NFL journalist Peter King, the Chiefs formally requested their game against the Bears be played at Arrowhead Stadium rather than in Frankfurt,
Germany, as part of the league’s international series. Per usual, hordes of Bears fans are expected to make their presence felt in Kansas City, Mo., on the third weekend of the season. The bigger question, though, is how much two-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes will make his presence felt against a Bears defense that finished last season ranked last in sacks and yards allowed per pass play. Tribune picks Advertisement Biggs: Chiefs Kane: Chiefs Wiederer: Chiefs Week 4: Bears vs. Denver Broncos Broncos coach Sean Payton speaks during his introductory news conference at team headquarters on Feb. 6 in Englewood, Colo. (AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS) Sunday, Oct. 1, noon, CBS-2 Does Sean Payton have the secret sauce to resurrect Russell Wilson? That’s at the center of an expensive experiment in Denver where the Broncos stumbled to 12 losses last season and fired first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett after only 15 games. Now a Super Bowl-winning offensive mastermind teams with a Super Bowl-winning quarterback on a mission to get the Broncos back into the playoffs for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50. Tribune picks Biggs: Bears Kane: Broncos Wiederer: Broncos Week 5: Bears at
Washington Commanders Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 45 Bears quarterback Justin Fields is shoved out of bounds by Commanders linebacker Cole Holcomb in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Thursday, Oct. 5, 7:15 p.m.,
Amazon Prime The Commanders’ nasty defensive front led by Daron Payne, Chase Young, Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat made life difficult for Justin Fields and the Bears offense in a Week 6 Thursday night game last season. Washington stole a 12-7 victory when a potential game-winning drive for the Bears ended 8 inches shy of the goal line with 30 seconds left. Could this be payback time? Tribune picks Advertisement Biggs: Bears Kane: Bears Wiederer: Bears Week 6: Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings Bears quarterback Tim Boyle walks off the field after a 29-13 loss to the Vikings on Jan. 8, 2023, at Soldier Field. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Sunday, Oct. 15, noon, Fox-32 Who could ever forget that Week 18 clash between the Bears and Vikings in January at Soldier Field, a 29-13 Vikings win that ended with Tim Boyle and Nick Mullens as the quarterbacks on the field? Actually, it’s quite possible fans of both teams wouldn’t be able to recall three plays from that game. Here’s hoping this year’s reunion downtown has more meaning and much more entertainment value. Tribune picks Biggs: Vikings Kane: Vikings Wiederer: Bears Week 7: Bears vs.
Las Vegas Raiders Raiders first-round draft pick Tyree Wilson speaks at his introductory news conference on April 28, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Heidi Fang/AP) Sunday, Oct. 22, noon, Fox-32 The Raiders invested the No. 7 pick on
Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson, an imposing pass rusher whose strength and speed is complemented by his 86-inch wingspan. The Raiders also made several notable offseason additions on offense, signing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and receiver Jakobi Meyers while drafting Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in Round 2. Tribune picks Advertisement Biggs: Bears Kane: Raiders Wiederer: Raiders Week 8: Bears at
Los Angeles Chargers Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a pass to Austin Ekeler in the fourth quarter against the Texans on Oct. 2, 2022, in Houston. (Bob Levey/Getty Images North America/TNS) Sunday, Oct. 29, 7:25 p.m., NBC-5 In his first three seasons, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown for 14,089 yards and 94 touchdowns. Both totals would rank third in Bears history. This also will be a reunion game with Khalil Mack, though most of Mack’s Bears teammates are long gone from the roster. Tribune picks Biggs: Chargers Kane: Chargers Wiederer: Chargers Week 9: Bears at New Orleans Saints Bears wide receiver Javon Wims (83) and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore react after Wims dropped a pass in the end zone in the first quarter of a playoff game on Jan 10, 2021, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Sunday, Nov. 5, noon, CBS-2 Bayou voodoo? The signature victory of the Bears’ 103-season history came at the Louisiana Superdome, a 46-10 pasting of the New
England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. But the Bears haven’t won in that building since October 1991, when Mike Ditka was still their coach and Jim Harbaugh was quarterback. The Bears’ last visit to New Orleans ended with a playoff exit in a 21-9 wild-card-round loss in January 2021 in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score would suggest. Tribune picks Advertisement Biggs: Saints Kane: Saints Wiederer: Saints Week 10: Bears vs. Carolina Panthers Bryce Young, left, stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first by the Panthers in the NFL draft on April 27 in Kansas City, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Images North America/TNS) Thursday, Nov. 9, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime After trading receiver DJ Moore and three draft picks to the Bears in March, the Panthers used the No. 1 pick from that landmark deal to draft
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young . League talent evaluators are curious to see how Young holds up in the NFL with his 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame. But truth be told, that might be the only significant deficiency anyone in the league could find during the predraft process as Young turned heads with his high-level composure, accuracy, feel for the game and playmaking ability. An early-November battle against Justin Fields should be fun. Tribune picks Biggs: Bears Kane: Bears Wiederer: Bears Week 11: Bears at Detroit Lions Bears running back David Montgomery is tackled in the fourth quarter against the Lions on Jan. 1, 2023, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Sunday, Nov. 19, noon, Fox-32 The Bears’ bid to retain running back David Montgomery stalled in March when Montgomery instead chose to sign a three-year, $18 million contract with the Lions. Bears GM Ryan Poles was disappointed but wished Montgomery well. The first reunion comes at Ford Field. “He definitely is going to run with a chip on his shoulder,” Poles said. Tribune picks Advertisement Biggs: Lions Kane: Lions Wiederer: Lions Week 12: Bears at Vikings Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is tackled by the Bears' Jaylon Jones on the 1-yard-line on Oct. 9, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Monday, Nov. 27, 7:15 p.m.,
ESPN Many have scoffed at the path the Vikings took to 13 wins and a division title last season, going 11-0 in games decided by eight points or fewer and finishing with a minus-3 point differential. Kevin O’Connell’s group couldn’t possibly repeat that magical run, could it? Well, with star receiver Justin Jefferson, anything seems possible. Included in Jefferson’s 1,800-yard season was a seven-catch, 91-yard first-quarter greeting for the Bears in the teams’ meeting at U.S. Bank Stadium in October. Tribune picks Biggs: Bears Kane: Vikings Wiederer: Vikings Week 13: Bye week Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 35 A Chicago Bears fan takes his seat early before a game at Soldier Field on Jan. 8, 2023. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) No game this week, so catch up on the latest Bears headlines out of Arlington Heights . Week 14: Bears vs. Lions Lions coach Dan Campbell, left to right, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes pose during during news conference on April 28 in Allen Park, Mich. (Carlos Osorio/AP) Sunday, Dec. 10, noon, Fox-32 Dan Campbell’s group won eight of their final 10 games last season and are suddenly the odds-on favorite to, well, take the North. The Lions also assembled an eight-man draft class that included first-round picks Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell as well as Day 2 talents Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch, Hendon Hooker and Brodric Martin. Advertisement Tribune picks Biggs: Lions Kane: Bears Wiederer: Lions Week 15: Bears at Cleveland Browns Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) sacks Bears quarterback Justin Fields during the second quarter on Sept. 26, 2021, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) TBA For those who enjoy adding pencil markings to the Justin Fields quarterback growth chart, this will be an intriguing return to the site of Fields’ first NFL start. That September day in 2021 was one to forget with Fields left to take a beating to the tune of nine sacks as the Bears totaled only 1 net passing yard in a 26-6 loss. So just how far has the franchise quarterback come since? Tribune picks Biggs: Lions Kane: Bears Wiederer: Bears Week 16: Bears vs.
Arizona Cardinals Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon watches his team during an organized team activity on April 26 in Tempe, Ariz. (Matt York/AP) Sunday, Dec. 24, 3:25 p.m., Fox-32 The Cardinals are one of three teams on the Bears’ schedule with a new coach. (The Broncos and Panthers are the others.) Matt Eberflus should have plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals boss Jonathan Gannon, who was his defensive backs coach with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-2020. Advertisement Tribune picks Biggs: Bears Kane: Bears Wiederer: Cardinals Week 17: Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons Texas running back Bijan Robinson poses with the Falcons fans after being selected with the eighth pick in the NFL draft on April 27 in Kansas City, Mo. (Tyler Kaufman/AP) Sunday, Dec. 31, noon, Fox-32 Is a running back ever worthy of being selected in the top 10 in the modern NFL? That was an animated debate for the two months leading up to the draft. The Falcons sure thought so, grabbing Texas back Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 selection. Robinson is a do-it-all weapon who should quickly become the engine of the Falcons offense. Will the Bears defense be sturdy enough up front to slow Robinson? Tribune picks Biggs: Bears Kane: Bears Wiederer: Bears Week 18: Bears at Packers Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers celebrates following a victory over the Bears on Dec. 4, 2022, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Saturday or Sunday, Jan. 6 or 7, TBA It can’t be, can it? A trip into Lambeau Field? Without tormentor Aaron Rodgers waiting at the gate? As the four-time MVP and eight-time NFC North champ tends to his new
Job with the
New York Jets, the Bears should feel eager to start exacting payback on their chief rivals. The Packers beat the Bears in Green Bay 13 times in 15 tries with Rodgers as their starter with an average margin of defeat of 16 points. How much will the 2023 season finale mean to either team? Advertisement Tribune picks Biggs: Packers Kane: Packers Wiederer: Bears Season predictions Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 Bears draft pick Darnell Wright waits to give interviews at Halas Hall on April 28, 2023. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Brad Biggs: 8-9 It’s only appropriate the Bears get the first shot at the Packers in the post-Aaron Rodgers era. After all, the future Hall of Famer had more success against them than any other franchise. With what general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus hope is a much different defense, the Bears will get to see how their retooled front seven looks against new Packers quarterback Jordan Love. It’s the first of what looks like at least nine games with teams using a new starting quarterback or with a depth chart in flux. The Bears travel to Tampa, Fla., in Week 2, where following Tom Brady’s retirement it looks like Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask. The Thursday game in Week 5 at Washington potentially pits the Bears against Sam Howell, who has one career start. The Bears could see Jimmy Garoppolo (Raiders) and Derek Carr (Saints) in Weeks 8 and 9 with new teams, and No. 1 pick Bryce Young and the Panthers visit Soldier Field in Week 10. Who knows if Kyler Murray will be back from a torn ACL for the Cardinals in time for Week 16. Could the Cardinals be in the mix for the No. 1 pick at that point? The following week, will Desmond Ridder be starting for the Falcons? Advertisement There’s generally a wide gap between the haves and have nots with quarterbacks, and the Bears have figured that out by trial and a lot of error. Maybe they have their guy in Justin Fields. Perhaps this is the schedule and the season in which he truly rises. It helps that the Bears face teams in flux at the position — no doubt about that. Colleen Kane: 8-9 A Bears-Packers season opener as Green Bay’s first game after Aaron Rodgers? The NFL couldn’t resist. I have to think it will play in the Bears’ favor to get Jordan Love right off the bat at Soldier Field, setting the Bears up to finally break the Packers’ eight-game winning streak in the rivalry. And Week 2 against the Buccaneers — post-Tom Brady — doesn’t seem that bad either. The Panthers game in November has the potential to come with a whole lot of hype, depending on how the seasons of Justin Fields and Bryce Young are playing out. The Bears passed on an opportunity to draft Young with the No. 1 pick because they believed in Fields’ development. By Week 10, the Bears should hope to have a good idea of how that decision is playing out, on Fields’ end at least. The meat of the schedule appears to come from Weeks 3-9. Those Week 8 and 9 games at the Chargers and Saints are the start of a stretch of four road games in five weeks. If the Bears can get through the second Vikings game after
Thanksgiving weekend in the .500 range, there could be a chance for a December push against the Lions, Browns, Cardinals and Falcons. As for that Week 18 trip to Lambeau Field? It’s too soon to tell if that will have playoff implications for either team. Advertisement Dan Wiederer: 7-10 The schedule release is a date-circling event for beat writers. Warm-weather escape weekends? The Bears will enjoy trips this fall to Tampa, Fla., Los Angeles and New Orleans. Nice. Holidays? No Thanksgiving game again this season — the Bears will travel to play the Vikings on Monday night following that weekend. They will also be home for
Christmas after a midafternoon kickoff on Christmas Eve against the Cardinals before hosting the Falcons for New Year’s Eve. But what about the matchups that really get the juices going? For those incomparable rushes, give me Sept. 10 at Soldier Field against the Packers. Right out of the gate. Let’s see the new shape of this rivalry in the post-Aaron Rodgers era. Let’s see how much progress Justin Fields has made and how much he can benefit from an upgraded supporting cast. Let’s see how much of an opening Jordan Love gives the Bears to close the gap. Give me Sept. 24 at Arrowhead Stadium, too, against the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Perfect measuring-stick game right there. Also give me Nov. 9, a Thursday nighter in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers with a potential battle between Fields and No. 1 pick Bryce Young on the lakefront. (Please, please, please don’t give any of us Andy Dalton vs. P.J. Walker for that one.) The most passionate Bears fans look at the 18-week schedule and see a paved road to playoff contention. A realist can spot the potholes while still seeing plenty of opportunity for a young and growing team to build belief toward a brighter future. It would surprise many in the league if this Bears team were to finish with a winning record in 2023. But the schedule doesn’t feel particularly imposing, particularly in a changing NFC landscape. So now the Bears get their chance to use it as a springboard.