Schedule Quirks, Biggest Challenges, Motivated Foes, Joint Practices, and Other Bears Bullets

After squeaking out a fantasy baseball win against a long-time rival (hi, Rich! no hard feelings!) this week, it looks like I’ve got some tough decisions to make with three players about to hit the IL. Gulp!

  • We’re still talking through the NFL schedule release because there are so many quirks that keep coming across our noses. Also, it’s that time of the year when things start to slow down in the news cycle. So that gives us extra time to go a little deeper on something trivial like how the schedule fell for the Bears.
  • For instance, Josh Schrock (NBC Sports Chicago) circles a seven-game stretch on the calendar he deems to be a toughie:
  • Week 6 vs. Vikings
    Week 7 vs. Raiders
    Week 8 at Chargers
    Week 9 at Saints
    Week 10 vs. Panthers
    Week 11 at Lions
    Week 12 at Vikings

  • That seven-game heater might look appealing, but it is loaded with booby traps. Back-to-back road games against the Chargers (a playoff team last year with Super Bowl aspirations) and Saints (who play in the notoriously tough SuperDome) will be a doozy. And then to come back home to play the Panthers on a short turnaround has that Thursday Night Football showdown looking like a trap game. Especially with back-to-back road games against division foes to wrap it up before the bye. This is not as kind of a stretch as you’d like for it to be when you were watching the schedule release video.
  • I can’t shake this thought: The Bears’ 2023 schedule looks inviting, but…

  • It’s the “but” that I can’t shake. Ironic, considering my butt-wiggling capabilities. But I digress. The Bears have just five games against teams that made the playoffs last year. And that should clear a path to a prosperous year. However, Dan Wiederer (Tribune) and Mark Potash (Sun-Times) go over the “buts” and I feel as if reading them now prepares us for later.
  • A scheduling note that flew under my radar:
  • The “joint practice” bit was funnier when the Bears were doing them in Denver. Nevertheless, I like that the Bears are doing these again. Heck, I’ll take it a step further and say I like that I’m seeing more NFL teams do these again. Some squads stepped back from joint practices when COVID was at its height of being problematic. Maybe this is a sign that things are normalizing.
  • Three players on PFF’s list of those going into a make-or-break 2023 happen to play for opponents on the Bears’ schedule this year. Chicago’s football team will see Bucs QB Baker Mayfield in Week 2, Chargers CB JC Jackson in Week 8, and Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins in Week 16. And for good measure, they might see Bills WR Gabe Davis in preseason Week 3. Even though the Bears’ schedule looks favorable, there are some games that give me pause. This year won’t be for the faint of heart. But that is life as a Bears fan. And I’m not sure we’d want it any other way. Besides, what fun is the journey if the road you take to complete it is Easy Street.
  • OK, um, on second thought, there is a part of me that is tired of the Football Gods giving us their toughest challenges. I know, I know. The football deities will give their toughest battles to their strongest soldiers. But have they considered giving those battles to others? Just asking.
  • ALSO: Week 2 in Tampa is such a waste. The NFL could’ve done us a solid by scheduling the Bears to take a trip to Florida in December, but noooooooo. The schedule-making algorithm couldn’t spit something out where the Bears could’ve gone to Cleveland in September and Tampa in December. A Week 2-Week 15 flip-flop was right there for us! Ugh.
  • One of the newest Bears is celebrating a birthday today:
  • It is probably way too early to suggest how effective this group will be in 2023, but the new-look defensive line can’t be worse than what it was last year. Birthday boy Raheem Green joins Andrew Billings, DeMarcus Walker, Zacch Pickens, Gervon Dexter Sr., and Travis Bell as newbies along the defensive line. Throw Dominique Robinson and Justin Jones into the mix and we’ve got eight defensive linemen who are in their first or second year with the team. In other words, that leaves Trevis Gipson as the lone holdover from the old regime. Gipson was a solid rotational defensive end/pass-rushing linebacker option for a minute. However, he’ll be facing stiff competition if he wants to hold onto a rotation spot.
  • Chicago’s very own Staley Da Bear is up for the Mascot Hall of Fame. It’s a loaded class, so you’ll want to stuff the ballot box (the Chicago way!) when you get a chance:
  • Seeing the Blackhawks looking forward to the offseason transaction season reminds me of how I felt as I began the post-mortem process with the 2022 Bears with eyes on 2023. In other words, this feels like a good time to get in at a low buy-in point for Chicago’s hockey team:
  • The Cubs are back in action after a brutal Saturday and Sunday stretch that made me glad I was mostly off the grid this weekend:
  • It’s a shame the Cubs and Astros never went against each other at the peak of their powers between 2015-2018. No, it isn’t as bad as the feeling I get knowing that we never got a Kobe-LeBron NBA Finals matchup. But we, as baseball fans, missed out on something special.
  • written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

    more bears news

    Mic’d Up Kyler Gordon is an Absolute Treat to Watch

    Football is fun. But it is undeniably *MORE* fun when a player like Kyler Gordon is Mic'd Up for a game. The Chicago Bears cornerback was given the Mic'd Up treatment for the team's Week 13 game against the Detroit...

    New Bears Defensive Play-caller Eric Washington Shares His Philosophy

    Thomas Brown isn't the only Chicago Bears coach possibly auditioning for a future role with the team. With Matt Eberflus now out of the picture, Eric Washington - the team's defensive coordinator - gets the call sheet as he takes...

    Bears vs. 49ers Preview: A Golden (Gate) Opportunity

    At 4-8, there is not much hope of the Chicago Bears being a legitimate playoff contender. Still, I find myself filled with the most optimism I've had since they trounced the Jacksonville Jaguars in London to move to 4-2 heading...

    Chicago Bears Week 14 Injury Report: Three Players Already Listed as OUT

    [ankin_law] The final Week 14 Chicago Bears injury report update of the week is OUT and there are three players who have already been ruled unavailable to play against the San Francisco 49ers. On the one hand, I hate to...

    The Greatest Coach of All-Time Might Not be a Bears Fit

    There is a growing consensus that Bill Belichick will coach in 2025. However, what is unknown - at this point - is where Belichick will be taking his talents after a year off from coaching in the NFL. ESPN's Chris...

    Caleb Williams Received a Pretty Cool Award in Week 14

    Caleb Williams played pretty well on the field despite the team's Week 13 against the Lions. But it is what he did off the field over the weekend that led him to get some recognition from the NFLPA. https://twitter.com/NFLPA/status/1865062685085171741 Thanks...

    Ben Johnson Sent a Message to the Chicago Bears Before Thursday Night Football

    I feel as if Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson used NFL insider Albert Breer to tell the Chicago Bears to get their act together before interviewing him for the team's vacant head coach position. Did it feel that way...

    Keenan Allen Gave Caleb Williams a Big Vote Of Confidence

    Keenan Allen's Bears tenure didn't get off to the greatest start. It wasn't really any doing of his own doing, but he's a 32-year-old wide receiver who's in Year 12 in the NFL and his body was catching up to...

    Fake McCaskey, Kmet Exhales, Beatty’s New Role, and Other Bears Bullets

    My friend Ryne (a fellow Bears fan) is tired of his Spotify Wrapped looking the same every December, so he wants your suggestions to can make a massive playlist. Let's help him out. I didn't think this needed to be...

    Don’t Screw It Up: Ben Johnson Is the Offensive Innovator That’s Always Eluded Chicago

    The Chicago Bears will have a new head coach in 2025. And like the team that fired Matt Eberflus on Black Friday, we're getting an early start on the search with this series that will profile potential head coaches for...

    Latest News

    George Washington vs. Old Dominion: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The George Washington Revolutionaries (7-2) take on the Old Dominion Monarchs (3-6) on December 7, 2024.In its most recent game, George Washington fell to American on Wednesday, 81-71 in OT. Its high scorer was Darren Buchanan Jr. with 24 points....

    How to Watch Utah State Aggies vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers: Live Stream or on TV

    The Utah State Aggies (8-0) will look to build on an eight-game winning streak when they host the Utah Tech Trailblazers (2-8) on December 7, 2024 at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.In its most recent game, Utah State defeated Wyoming on...

    How to Watch Le Moyne Dolphins vs. Binghamton Bearcats: Live Stream or on TV

    The Le Moyne Dolphins (3-7) face the Binghamton Bearcats (4-6) on December 7, 2024. The matchup airs on ESPN+.In its most recent game, Le Moyne lost to Army on Tuesday, 103-100 in OT. Its high scorer was Dwayne Koroma with...

    How to Watch Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Kentucky Wildcats: Live Stream or on TV

    The Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-1) play the Kentucky Wildcats (7-1) on December 7, 2024. The matchup airs on ESPN2.In its most recent game, Gonzaga beat Davidson on Friday, 90-65. Ben Gregg scored a team-high 24 points (and added two assists and...

    How to Watch UCSD Tritons vs. CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners: Live Stream or on TV

    The UCSD Tritons (7-2, 1-0 Big West) will try to extend a five-game win streak when they host the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (4-5, 0-1 Big West) on December 7, 2024 at LionTree Arena.In its most recent game, UCSD beat UCSB...

    How to Watch South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. Eastern Washington Eagles: Live Stream or on TV

    The Eastern Washington Eagles (2-7) will look to end a six-game road slide when they take on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (7-3) on December 7, 2024 at First Bank and Trust Arena.South Dakota State lost its most recent game...

    North Dakota State vs. Northern Colorado: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The North Dakota State Bison (6-4) will try to build on a three-game win streak when they host the Northern Colorado Bears (6-4) on December 7, 2024 at Scheels Center.North Dakota State was victorious in its previous game versus Weber...

    Missouri State vs. Indiana State: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    MVC play features the Missouri State Bears (5-3, 0-0 MVC) at home against the Indiana State Sycamores (5-4, 0-0 MVC) on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET.Missouri State was victorious in its previous game against Oral Roberts, 72-67,...

    How to Watch Central Arkansas Bears vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions: Live Stream or on TV

    The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (1-8) hope to stop a seven-game losing streak when they host the Central Arkansas Bears (2-6) on December 7, 2024 at H.O. Clemmons Arena. The game airs on SWAC Digital Network.On Wednesday, in its last...

    Idaho State vs. Oral Roberts: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (3-6) aim to end a four-game road losing streak when they visit the Idaho State Bengals (3-5) on December 7, 2024.In its most recent game, Idaho State fell to South Dakota on Wednesday, 94-80. Its...

    more bears news