With training camp soon to be underway and the Chicago Bears getting ready to defend their NFC North title it is fair to begin to look to the start of the regular season. Expectations have rarely been this high over the last decade as the franchise appears to be a cemented NFC contender and one of the few true threats to a loaded Los Angeles Rams roster.
With this in mind, let's look ahead to the first five weeks of Chicago's 2026 season and predict how things will play out for an organization that cannot afford a slow start in an incredibly talented division. Luckily, the early-season schedule offers a chance to start off the season in fitting fashion.
Week 1 Chicago Bears- 27 Carolina Panthers- 19
There really isn't a valid argument that if the Bears are healthy that they could lose this game. Whether it is the receivers, tight ends, quarterback, or head coach the franchise has far too large an advantage to let this one slip away. Even if the best version of Bryce Young were to show up the Bears have the better roster and aren't going to struggle to put this game away putting any heroics from Williams on hold until later in the season.
Week 2 Chicago Bear- 31 Minnesota Vikings- 16
For the second straight week the Bears have a huge advantage with the presence of Justin Jefferson presenting the only notable challenge for Chicago. Still, the clear talent disparity and issues Minnesota is facing at quarterback make this an easy win and gives the Bears a quick start to the season despite not being tested by playoff-level talent early in the year.
Week 3 Philadelphia Eagles-27 Chicago Bears- 24
It is better to lose to the Eagles now rather than in a potential playoff matchup and it is fair to believe that a young team isn't going to start out the season in perfect fashion. If you're going to drop a game in the first five weeks of the season this makes the most sense as one that could slip away after facing two inferior rosters.
Week 4 Chicago Bears- 20 New York Jets- 13
The Jets aren't a team Chicago is going to be excited to face with the Packers clearly becoming a focus. However, after dropping a game to the Eagles they aren't going to let this one slip away running the ball to shorten the game and putting it away with the first late-game heroics from Williams of the 2026 season.
Week 5 Chicago Bears-31 Green Bay Packers-28
It is this game or the matchup against the Eagles that will be Chicago's first loss of the season. It is far easier to swallow a loss against a non-division rival. With that said, the Bears can expect the Packers absolute best shot after the way the 2025 season ended making this far more important to Green Bay than Chicago. Still, it appears the better quarterback and head coach is going to prevail and recent history tells us that this is the Bears.
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