Breaking Down The Chicago Bears’ 2023 Schedule
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Over the past few years, the NFL has successfully evolved into a year-round extravaganza, with fans engrossed in the on-field excitement from August to January.
However, it seems that the NFL offseason activities are just as exciting. One of the highlights is the release of the upcoming season’s schedule, which is particularly thrilling for Chicago Bears fans.
The Bears finished last season with the worst record in the league at 3-14. However, they have made significant changes during the offseason, including trading for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and acquiring wide receiver D.J. Moore. With quarterback Justin Fields entering his third season, the team is expected to show improvement.
The Chicago Bears’ success often hinges on their schedule. Here is a breakdown of their 2023 opponents and a detailed analysis of their upcoming lineup.
Chicago Bears Schedule 2023
| Week # | Date & Time | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun, Sep 10 – 3:25 PM | vs. Green Bay Packers | Soldier Field |
| 2 | Sun, Sep 17 – Noon | @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium |
| 3 | Sun, Sep 24 – 3:25 PM | @ Kansas City Chiefs | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium |
| 4 | Sun, Oct 1 – Noon | vs. Denver Broncos | Soldier Field |
| 5 | Thu, Oct 5 – 7:15 PM (TNF) | @ Washington Commanders | FedExField |
| 6 | Sun, Oct 15 – Noon | vs. Minnesota Vikings | Soldier Field |
| 7 | Sun, Oct 22 – Noon | vs. Las Vegas Raiders | Soldier Field |
| 8 | Sun, Oct 29 – 7:20 PM (SNF) | @ Los Angeles Chargers | SoFi Stadium |
| 9 | Sun, Nov 5 – Noon | @ New Orleans Saints | Caesars Superdome |
| 10 | Thu, Nov 9 – 7:15 PM (TNF) | vs. Carolina Panthers | Soldier Field |
| 11 | Sun, Nov 19 – Noon | @ Detroit Lions | Ford Field |
| 12 | Mon, Nov 27 – 7:15 PM (MNF) | @ Minnesota Vikings | U.S. Bank Stadium |
| 13 | BYE WEEK | ||
| 14 | Sun, Dec 10 – Noon | vs. Detroit Lions | Soldier Field |
| 15 | Sun, Dec 17 – TBD | @ Cleveland Browns | FirstEnergy Stadium |
| 16 | Sun, Dec 24 – 3:25 PM | vs. Arizona Cardinals | Soldier Field |
| 17 | Sun, Dec 31 – Noon | vs. Atlanta Falcons | Soldier Field |
| 18 | Sun, Jan 7, 2024 – TBD | @ Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field |
Bears 2023 schedule outlook
NFC North is seemingly up for grabs
This upcoming season could possibly witness the Chicago Bears making a leap from the bottom to the top. The Minnesota Vikings, last year’s NFC North champions, are not considered unbeatable. The Detroit Lions have not won a division title since 1993. Additionally, Aaron Rodgers, who used to dominate the Bears with the Green Bay Packers, is no longer with the team.
There is no denying that the Bears have several areas to improve and need many players to step up in key roles in order to secure multiple wins in 2023. However, it would be inaccurate to say that they have no chance of winning all their divisional games this season.
According to Illinois Sportsbooks, the Lions are favored to win the division in the preseason, with the Bears also having decent odds.
Many experts believe that Justin Fields has the potential to become the best quarterback in the NFC North next season. If he can take a significant step forward in his third year, it could greatly improve the team’s chances of winning the division.
Bears secure four primetime slots… for now
The NFL appears to be expecting a resurgence from the Bears franchise, as they have been scheduled for four primetime games. This includes two Thursday Night matchups, a Sunday Night game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and a Monday Night Football showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite this, the current flexible scheduling rules of the NFL allow for the possibility that the Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football games could be changed. If the Bears have a successful season, it is likely that these games will remain in their original time slots. Additionally, this season marks the first time that teams not playing on Thanksgiving will participate in multiple Thursday Night Football games that cannot be rescheduled. As a result, the Bears will be featured in at least two standalone primetime games during the 2023 season.
Chicago’s strength of schedule near the middle of the pack
It will be no easy task for the Bears to achieve significant improvement this season, as they are facing the 18th most challenging schedule in the league.
In 2022, the opponents had a winning percentage of .497, finishing with a total record of 143-145-1. However, a large number of these victories were earned against the Vikings, Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bears will face off against opponents from the AFC West and NFC South divisions in the upcoming season. They will host the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons at home, while traveling to take on the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and New Orleans Saints on the road.
Chicago, who placed fourth in the NFC North, will face off against the teams that also finished in fourth place in the NFC East and NFC West. In a 17th game added to the schedule, they will play on the road against the Cleveland Browns, who finished fourth in the AFC North. Additionally, Chicago will have two matchups against each of their NFC North division rivals as part of the regular season.
Way too early Bears’ 2023 predictions
I usually don’t like to make predictions, but I see no harm in making some early on as they are more like hopeful thoughts than definite forecasts. So, take these “predictions” with a grain of salt in this context.
- The Bears are expected to surpass their predicted number of wins.
- I am confident that the Bears will win at least nine games this season, finishing with a record above .500.
- Justin Fields is set to be chosen for the Pro Bowl.
- D.J. Moore is expected to reach at least 1,000 receiving yards.
- The Bears’ defense is projected to finish in the top half of the league in total sacks.
