The Chicago Bears were one of the surprise stories of the 2025 season, winning a division that was expected by many to be a two-team race. It was supposed to be the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers vying for division supremacy, and instead, Chicago raced out to a lead they wouldn't relinquish and are now dealing with a 2026 schedule that reflects last year's accomplishments and points to the confidence the league has in Chicago to remain among the NFC's top contenders.
Looking at Chicago's schedule, the Bears are scheduled for five primetime matchups as well as two holiday games that send one clear message from the league. This isn't a team that is viewed as a one-hit wonder or a historic franchise having one great year; the Bears are expected to be a new powerhouse and an important player deep into the NFC season.
Both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day matchups serve as evidence of this belief and point to a league that is enjoying having the historic franchise back to an expected level of relevance. For the Bears, it speaks to the upcoming pressures of learning to win when it is a consistent expectation and not a surprise.
Bears Clearly Expected to be Viable 2026 Contenders Based on Exciting Schedule
It is hard to doubt that this is going to work out in Chicago's favor when you consider the strong coaching staff and the leap young pieces are expected to take. Caleb Williams is at the top of this list as the young signal caller has continually evolved over the past two seasons and appeared to be on the verge of taking a leap into the conversation as one of the league's top five options at the position.
This might seem a lofty expectation, but it is the reality of having such an elite talent and why the league has such an incredibly high level of confidence in the Bears moving forward. Chicago isn't just expected to be a contender based on last season, but the understanding that they now employ one of the league's top talents at the most important position.
Chicago fans are unquestionably poised for an incredibly entertaining 2026 season with every reason to believe that it has a chance to end in Super Bowl glory. A scenario that the league would clearly love, as Chicago is one of the most heavily featured teams in a 2026 schedule that continues to build anticipation for the season to come.
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