Chicago Bears: 5 intriguing matchups in the Bears’ schedule

The Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders matchup will mark the first time Khalil Mack will play his old team since he was traded.

The Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders will be playing at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium in North London in Week 5 next season. Khalil Mack will be facing the team that drafted him and the team he ultimately requested a trade from for the first time. The two teams have not squared off since the Bears defeated the Raiders at Soldier Field 22-20 in Week 4 of the 2015 season.

The Raiders spent big money in free agency on both former Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown and former Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner. They also added controversial linebacker Vontaze Burfict and journeyman punt returner Dwayne Harris. Although they don’t figure to be in the mix for the AFC West title conversation, the Raiders did get better this offseason. They also have the advantage of traveling abroad for the fourth consecutive year.

This will mark the first time the Bears will be traveling to London to play a football game since the 2011 season. They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-18 in front of 77,000 patrons that year. Nobody on the current Bears roster was part of that 2011 roster, so there has to be some advantage in the Raiders favor of knowing what to expect in terms of travel, sleep, and eating schedules.

That all being said, I still think the Bears have way too much talent to lay an egg in this one. They will also have their bye week after this game.