The Chicago Bears plan for 2025 came together quite nicely. First, get your franchise quarterback (check), then, grab the best offensive mind going for that quarterback (check), load up on offensive talent in the draft (check), win football games (check). So far, so good for the new look Bears, as they took the NFC North, a very good NFC North, in HC Ben Johnson’s first season. They’ll hope to go far in the playoffs, but however this season turns out, it has been a net positive.
Chicago Bears opponents 2026: Who’s on the schedule, how easy or hard will their schedule be
The Chicago Bears won the NFC North in 2025. We already know their 2026 opponents and what it means for their playoff chances next year.
Getty Images
Caleb Williams has flourished under Johnson’s scheme and only gotten better as he’s become more acclimated to it. The rookie offensive pieces like Colston Loveland, Kyle Monangai, and Luther Burden have all performed as well as or better than hoped, giving the team a young base to work with moving forward.
Chicago Bears list of opponents
Home opponents
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Jacksonville Jaguars
Road opponents
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings
- Seattle Seahawks
Chicago Bears schedule analysis
The Bears will have nine home games and eight road games next season pending the announcement of the matchups for the 2026 international games. The NFC North will face the AFC East and the NFC South next season, while the Bears will take on the division winners from the NFC West, NFC East, and AFC South.
There are a few gimmes in there, but the overwhelming majority of these matchups are going to be tough on paper as we look ahead. The toughest looks like their own division, which was the winningest division in the league, as not team had fewer than eight wins. The Vikings are the only team of the group that has concerns at quarterback, but as a whole, are still a solid team, while the Lions and Packers should remain tough outs.
The AFC East got a lot better this year with Drake Maye and the Patriots coming on strong and of course Josh Allen is always going to be a menace. The Jets, Dolphins, and NFC South are where we get a bunch of games the Bears should be favored in from the get-go. But overall, the Bears winning the division will make their schedule tougher, while their division being so good is a real problem for putting together another NFC North championship in 2026.
See More:
