Chicago Bears Schedule Release: Diving into every prime time game
By Ryan Heckman
We are now one step closer to Chicago Bears football. The 2021 NFL schedule has been fully released and, let’s just say, it won’t be an easy season.
Based on opponents’ records last year, the Bears will have the league’s third-toughest schedule. Chicago will see the AFC North and NFC West this year, which are both going to be incredibly competitive divisions.
But, if a few things go right, the Bears will be competitive themselves.
The Bears’ success in 2021 will largely depend on two important factors: when Justin Fields starts and whether or not the pass rush returns to elite form.
The NFL seems to think the Chicago Bears will play Justin Fields as a rookie, moving Andy Dalton to the bench.
A work of art.@Benjamin_Moore | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/a7YUcu8WLT
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 12, 2021
When the schedule was released, one thing was abundantly clear: the league’s oddsmakers and schedule creators believed the Bears would start Justin Fields this season — which is music to Bears fans’ ears.
Chicago has five games on the big stage this year, up there for the most in the league if you count Thanksgiving as a prime time game. The interesting factor is, the majority of those prime time games come in the second half of the season, where there’s a bigger chance Fields is going to be playing.
Bears fans aren’t necessarily used to a whopping five games on national television. It’s been a couple of years since Chicago was more relevant. But, now that they have their franchise quarterback in Fields, the Bears are going to be a whole lot more popular.
When looking at the schedule and the prime time games, in particular, the Bears are going to have it pretty tough. But again, if Fields is starting for the majority of the year (which he most likely will), they’ll have a shot. The other common factor in these prime time games is the likelihood that the Bears’ opponents have top-half offenses. Will the defense be ready?
All five prime time games present some fun matchups and storylines. Let’s begin in Week 1 where Chicago kicks off Sunday Night Football in Los Angeles.