The 2024 NFL season started out strong for the playoff hopeful Chicago Bears. Taking a winning record into their Week 7 bye, the team felt confident about the rest of the season.
Chicago would go on to lose their next ten games before finally winning the fifth and final contest of the season. While posting a 5-12 record last year, a number of games were close.
In fact, the Bears played in 13 games decided by a touchdown or less. Only four games weren't close, including a pair of back-to-back blowout wins in Weeks 5 and 6.
With the upcoming schedule release for the 2025 NFL season, there is one opponent that is almost guaranteed to be in another down-to-the-wire game (or two).
Bears Will Have Close Game Against Key Division Rival
Chicago managed just one win out of their six games against fellow NFC North members. During Weeks 11-13, the Bears played all three adversaries within their division consecutively.
All three games were within three points or less, including the overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Bears' rookie quarterback Caleb Williams even threw for 340 yards. During that ten-game losing streak, this was the only game for Chicago where they scored at least 21 points, too.
The Bears struggled to keep the rematches against the Vikings and the Detroit Lions close. They were outscored in Weeks 15 and 16 by a combined 64-29.
However, the season finale provided the much needed spark of hope and celebration of things to come in Chicago.
Expect Bears vs. Packers to Produce At Least One Tight Battle in 2025
Chicago and Green Bay split wins against each other last season. Each team won on the road when they played.
The last time the Bears made the playoffs was in 2020. Despite making the postseason, the Packers won both games against their NFC North foes by more than 14 points.
In the three seasons after, Chicago lost all six regular season games against Green Bay. This time, only half of those defeats were by double-digits.
The Bears-Packers rivalry continues with a big-time matchup. Fair warning and (not so) bold prediction: It will be cold. https://t.co/6cUjBmEk3f
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) May 12, 2025
Last year, the Bears and Packers played close in Weeks 11 & 18. The results were a one-point loss at home and a two-point victory at Lambeau Field, respectively.
Williams had the stronger game in the loss. He recorded 231 passing yards and D'Andre Swift rushed for 70 yards. During the Bears' victory in the final game, Williams threw for under 150 yards and Swift only racked up 65 rushing yards.
Chicago has improved drastically over the offseason through free agency and the NFL Draft. Significant upgrades were made to the offensive line with a pair of trades and an additional signing. Two more weapons were brought in the first two rounds of last month's draft, as well.
One Comparison That Supports This Prediction
Green Bay boasted one of the league's best offenses last season. They ranked fourth in the NFC with an average of just a tad over 370 yards of offense per game. The Packers had the fifth-best run offense in the NFL in terms of yards per game, too.
Chicago was among the bottom in both categories. Their run defense was the fifth-worst in the league. However, their passing defense did rank in the middle of the pack. With Ben Johnson as the Bears' new head coach and Dennis Allen taking over as the defensive coordinator, these areas should improve in 2025.
"I want to put the word out there that there is a new owner in Green Bay."Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears QB
Yet, when it came to points per game allowed, both teams were barely two points apart from one another. Chicago allowed 21.8, whereas Green Bay allowed 1.9 less. That difference comes close to with margin between both games last season (1.5 points).
With two more games guaranteed in the 2025 NFL schedule against Jordan Love and company, the Bears looked primed to produce another tight-knit battle that could go down to the wire. Heck, they might even deliver both games.