NEWSLETTER
The NFL Draft is fully in our rear-view mirror.
But the next NFL game on our schedule isn’t until August.
So … how will we pass the time?
Well, a chunk of it will be spent dreaming about the future. And with Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and the rest of a highly acclaimed NFL Draft class in tow, can you blame me?
As for this past weekend, I spent far too much time dissecting this video hinting at the league’s upcoming schedule drop:
2024 NFL Schedule Release. Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/Gf1IAS958G
— NFL (@NFL) May 3, 2024
Nobody drops a teaser like the NFL. C’mon, now. Who else can get away with a teaser video for a schedule announcement for games that won’t be played for another four months? This league is something else.
Garland Gilliam, a reporter for New Orleans FOX affiliate WVUE, hears the league’s schedule release will come on May 9. That is this upcoming Thursday. So if you have any plans for Friday morning, then break ’em. Because we’re going to spend the day assigning wins and losses for games. So get your pencils and prognostication caps ready for shenanigans later in the week.
Chicago Bears 2024 Opponents
One thing we know about the NFL schedule is the Bears’ 2024 opponents.
DIVISIONAL GAMES
As always, Chicago’s football team will play two games against their three division rivals:
The Bears split their two games against the Lions in 2023 and are 3-3 against Detroit since Dan Campbell took over as their head coach. Campbell said he was happy to see Justin Fields leave the NFC North. We’ll see if he feels the same way after seeing Caleb Williams twice this year. Chicago also split its two games against the Vikings last season. The four games against Minnesota and Detroit were competitive and winnable. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the games against That Team In Wisconsin.
The Packers have won 10 straight in the series and have lost just three times to Green Bay since the calendar flipped to 2011. To say it has been ugly would be an understatement. The Bears are 3-25 against Green Bay in that stretch. Writing this paragraph makes me want to vomit, so I’ll stop now. Enough is enough. And it is time for some change.
GAMES AGAINST THE AFC SOUTH
Every year, the teams from the NFC North will play all four teams from an AFC division. This year, the teams of the AFC South provide the competition. Here’s how that breaks down:
If you’re looking for a worthwhile road trip, I feel as if Houston and Indianapolis are your best bets. That Bears-Texans game pitting C.J. Stroud against the team that passed on drafting him No. 1 overall could be a doozy — and it sounds like he’ll be motivated for that one. Jacksonville coming to town will be interesting because that game figures to pit Caleb Williams against Trevor Lawrence. That Tennessee Titans matchup could be sneaky fun. Although, I’d have preferred it to be in Nashville for road-tripping purposes.
GAMES AGAINST THE NFC WEST
Every year, the teams from the NFC North will play all four teams from an NFC division. This year, the teams of the NFC West provide the competition. Here’s how that part of the schedule breaks down:
The Bears are winless at SoFi Stadium. But considering how the team is angling for a new stadium, a trip to Cali for a scouting report could’ve been nice. Ah, well, wait ’til next year.
GAMES AGAINST SAME-PLACE FINISHERS
The Bears will play three NFC opponents and one AFC foe that finished in the same place (fourth) in the standings as they did in 2023. This is what that part of the schedule looks like:
Last year’s Bears beat the Panthers and Commanders — and on Thursday Night Football. Who’s up to see Caleb Williams against last year’s No. 1 pick Bryce Young? I’m sure Carolina fans will be watching that one through gritted teeth. How about a duel between the No. 1 and 2 overall picks in 2024? If you hear a fan of the Washington Football Team swear they wanted Jayden Daniels all along, just know they are a terrible liar.
The Bears demolished the Patriots on an ESPN Monday Night Football game in 2022 the last time these two teams met. It stands as my favorite game of the Justin Fields era for a number of reasons. If you know, you know. And if you don’t, maybe I’ll tell you the story over a frosty beverage at Soldier Field. It’ll be weird to see the Patriots without Bill Belichick.
Don’t forget about the NFL in London
In 2024, every NFC team will play nine home games and eight on the road as part of an imbalanced 17-game schedule. Well, every team with the exception of the Bears — who will play one of their “home” games in London:
A London trip gives me mixed feelings. Part of me thinks it is an honor that the NFL thinks highly enough of the Bears to send them across the pond. Plus, there could be a benefit of sending the brass overseas to check out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened in 2019. But I don’t love Bears fans and season-ticket holders losing a home date to satisfy the NFL’s appetite to maximize revenues with an overseas game. But there is no crying over spilled milk.
Besides, Caleb Williams could become an international superstar depending on how that game goes. No pressure, rookie!
C
Last year’s Bears schedule featured a pair of appearances on Thursday Night Football, a Sunday Night Football showdown, one Monday Night Football game, and four games in the prime Sunday afternoon slot at 3:25 pm CT. And that was for a team coming off a 3-win season. After drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in last month’s NFL Draft, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to imagine that this year’s team could have as many (or more) primetime games as it did last year. You can’t even blame the NFL for wanting it either. Bears fans turn on their TVs in droves, and they’re expected to do so again in 2024.
I’m looking forward to seeing how it shakes out. We’ll discuss more when it does.
