The Chicago Bears can’t afford to complain about whatever schedule they’re given. At the end of the day, it’s on them to win the games. If they believe they’re good enough to win a championship, it shouldn’t matter who they play. Yet everybody knows that a schedule can often make or break a season. Don’t believe it? Eight of the nine teams who had the easiest schedules in 2021 made the playoffs. This sort of thing can really matter.
This is why a lot of Bears fans don’t have a ton of confidence in this team going into 2021. Initial glances show a schedule that could turn out to be pretty brutal. It seems the math agrees. According to NFL.com, Chicago currently has the third-hardest schedule this coming season with opponents holding a .550 winning percentage from last season. Only the Steelers and Ravens have it tougher.
Looking at the lineup doesn’t make it easier to digest.
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Detroit Lions
- Arizona Cardinals
- San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Baltimore Ravens
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- New York Giants
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Las Vegas Raiders
Let’s run through that slate. Among those included are a team the Bears haven’t beaten since 2018 (Packers), the defending Super Bowl champions (Buccaneers), a Super Bowl participant from two years ago (49ers), and five other teams who were in the playoffs this past year. All with Andy Dalton at quarterback and a defense that just lost its best cornerback in Kyle Fuller. An objective person will have a difficult time finding wins during that slate.
Chicago Bears will at least have low expectations on their side
If one thing is true about this organization, it’s that they always play better when they’re doubted. Rest assured nobody is going to give them a chance to do much of anything this year. Not with Dalton under center and not with a defense whose core is a year older. It feels like the only way they’ll be able to avoid a significant regression is if they hit big on a couple of their draft picks or the schedule turns out to be weaker than expected.
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Neither feels entirely favorable at this point. This might suit a lot of Chicago Bears fans just fine though. A down season could end up working out. It means GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy would almost certainly be fired and a new regime to replace them. They would inherit a decent collection of young talents and likely a top 10 pick next year. Maybe they’ll be able to succeed where Pace failed at the quarterback position.
Then again perhaps the Bears pull off a shocker.
If one thing is true about this team under Nagy? It’s that just when you think they’re doomed, they find a way to rally. They’re a resilient group. Maybe being under such immense pressure could be good for them. If nothing else, it makes the 2021 season a little more interesting. Either because it’ll be a pleasant surprise or a spectacular bomb.
