Against all odds, the Chicago Bears overcame a slow start to the season to finish with the best record in the NFC North. Ben Johnson led his team deep into the playoffs in his first year in charge of the team, and the bar will be much higher in 2026.
Of course, that also means the Bears will have to deal with a tougher schedule this season. As divisional champions, they will square off against the creme of the crop, and the pressure will be asphixiating.
Nevertheless, as much as has been said of this team's challenging schedule for the upcoming season, it might actually be a blessing in disguise. If anything, the Bears will be more than prepared for the playoffs.
The Bears' tough schedule will be the ultimate playoff preparation
As CBS Sports points out, the Bears will have the most difficult schedule in the NFL next season, based on last year's standings. Their opponents will have a combined 158-129-2 record, which is good for a .550 winning percentage. For contrast, the Cleveland Browns will go against teams with a combined 124-165 record (.429).
As per usual, the Bears will meet with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions twice in the regular season, once on the road and once at Soldier Field. The NFC North is perhaps the most competitive division in pro football, so that obviously doesn't help with the strength of schedule.
Ben Johnson's team will also host the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They will hit the road to meet with the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, and the Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks
That's clearly going to be challenging, and the Bears enter the season with some defensive concerns that remain unaddressed. That said, not many people thought this team would win 12 games last season (including playoffs). Time and time again, Caleb Williams and the offense proved that they could never be counted out.
Now, with more experience under their belt and knowing Ben Johnson's mentality, the Bears will have an even bigger chip on their shoulders in 2026. Iron sharpens iron, and every week will put this team against the ropes. Battle-tested teams fare better in the playoffs, and this team has already proved that it can hold its ground against anybody.
The Bears are a team on the rise with a generational talent at quarterback and an absolute maniac calling the shots. Once again, the defense will be on the spotlight, but they should still be in a position to prove that last year's success wasn't a fluke.
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