Bears' 2021 schedule from easiest to hardest, ranked
The Chicago Bears' have the third-toughest schedule based on opponents combined record from last season. That means 2021 is littered with tough opponents and games.But which games are the hardest? We'll start with the easiest.
Matt Nagy has had the Lions' number during his time in Chicago. He's 5-1 against Detroit. The Lions have a new coach and a new quarterback in Jared Goff, so this isn't the same old Lions. But let's bank on the Lions still working out the kinks early in the season.
Andy Dalton played well against the Bengals with the Dallas Cowboys last season. The Bengals used their first-round pick on Ja'Marr chase instead of offensive line help for Burrow, though they did get Clemson's Jackson Carman in the second round. The Bengals should struggle against the Bears' front-seven.
The Giants play in the worst division in football and while they're improving every year, the Bears should handle Daniel Jones and company. Not to mention this is a late December game at home in Chicago on the lakefront.
Monday Night Football hasn't been kind to Kirk Cousins, and even though he finally got that MNF win the primetime struggles should continue. Add in a bit of a Chicago winter on the lakefront, and it's favorable conditions for the Bears.
The Bears and Lions will play on Thanksgiving for the third time in four years. The Bears won the 2018 and 2019 games, and should win again in 2021. It's a new regime in Detroit with a new quarterback and a late season game, the Lions could be clicking by this point.
Kirk Cousins at home to end the season. The Vikings could be playing for nothing, perhaps even trotting out Kellen Mond to start and get some NFL experience.
The Bears head to Vegas for their first game in the new stadium. Khalil Mack revenge game on deck, which bodes well for the Bears' chances. Not to mention the Raiders' draft class getting panned as one of the worst.
Warm weather, dome team in Chicago in December always bodes well for the Bears. It should help the defense corral the Arizona offense and Kyler Murray.
Will Trey Lance be starting? Will the 49ers be contending or laying the foundation for 2022? Kind of a toss up. Playing at home with the wind coming off the lake helps.
Will this be the 11-0 Steelers, or the Steelers from down the stretch? Playing in Pittsburgh is never easy and running back Najee Harris will be an intriguing matchup.
Stop trying to make fetch happen. The NFL really wants a Bears-Rams rivalry. A lot of question marks in this game. Who will be the Bears' starting quarterback? What does the Rams offense look like with Matthew Stafford. The uncertainty on both sides makes this a tough match up.
Is Aaron Rodgers the quarterback? That has a lot of implications on this game. But the Packers have had the Bears number for years and it's always a tough matchup.
Lamar Jackson with a new offensive weapon in Rashod Bateman. That's a daunting thought. The good news is the Bears get this game off a Bye Week and at home.
The Browns proved they're contenders last year, and they've arguably gotten better. Not to mention the stability that's come to the team without coaching turnover this offseason. This will be a tough test for the Bears.
