We’re getting closer to knowing when exactly meaningful football will be played again.
NFL to release 2017 regular-season schedule Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on @NFLnetwork https://t.co/LymPxQZ08J pic.twitter.com/HEARL7PJJM
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 18, 2017
The NFL’s regular season schedule is coming soon. NFL Network will release the schedule on Thursday at 7 p.m. as part of a two-hour special. Back in January, the Bears released a list of their non-divisional 2017 opponents, so we already know the Bears will play Falcons, Panthers, Steelers, 49ers, and Browns at home, while taking to the road to face the Saints, Buccaneers, Eagles, Ravens, and Bengals.
But finishing in the NFC North basement doesn’t mean an easy schedule. Chicago will face four Super Bowl winning quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, and Joe Flacco), three other Pro Bowlers (Matthew Stafford, Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston), as well as the last two NFL MVPs (Cam Newton, Matt Ryan).
Mike Glennon will have his work cutout for him as he tries to keep up with these gunslingers.
The Bears announced their preseason opponents a week ago. John Fox’s team will play host to the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns, while traveling to play the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. Chicago’s trip to Tennessee will be a prime-time affair in the all-important third week of the preseason, and it will be televised nationally on FOX.