We already knew the season was gonna start with a bang with a rivalry grudge match against the Packers on Sunday Night Football, but the rest of the Chicago Bears’ 2018 schedule has been revealed … and in style:
Get fired up. Our 2018 schedule is officially here. #MonstersOfTheMidway #ScheduleRelease2018 pic.twitter.com/lXlJxMoKn9
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 20, 2018
Reminder: Tickets go on sale at 8 p.m. via Ticketmaster online and over the phone. Good luck.
Now that we have that out of the way, what can we take away from this schedule release?
The dreaded early-season bye week stands out like a sore thumb. I’m not a fan, and that’s putting it nicely. Also, I’m not quite found of that final four-game stretch of the season that wraps up with back-to-back games on the road.
Off the bat, we’re looking at a pair of prime-time games right off the bat. It’s as if someone who was drawing up the schedule saw an opportunity to get the Bears in front of a national audience while interest will be at its highest because everyone loves the shiny new thing.
Mitch Trubisky in his second professional season being coached up (that’s right, actual coaching) by first-year head coach Matt Nagy is something curious Bears fans who tuned out during the John Fox era will probably check in to watch – especially against the rival Packers.
Aaron Rodgers isn’t the only big-name quarterback Trubisky will square off against. In addition to division rivals Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford, Trubisky and the new-look Bears offense will go toe-to-toe with Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Jared Goff, and Jimmy Garoppolo. Potential revenge games against Mike Glennon (Cardinals) and Josh McCown (Jets) could be on the horizon. Chicago could also see rookie quarterbacks when they play the Cardinals, Bills, Jets, and/or Giants. The possibilities seem endless in late April.
There isn’t a soft spot anywhere on the schedule, so the Bears will have their work cut out for them and fans who saw value in their odds being at 100/1 back in March.
Other schedule highlights:
So how many wins do you have the Bears down for in 2018? It’s OK. Be honest … or optimistic. Whatever floats your boat.
I’ll be safe and say: “More than last year.”