3 Games Bears Must Win At All Costs on 2024 Schedule

The Chicago Bears 2024 schedule is out and it is one of the more favorable slates in the NFL. Not only do they have the fourth-easiest schedules according to their opponents' 2023 record, but they also start with extremely winnable games. In fact, the Bears don't play a division rival until Week 11. After that point, six of their eight remaining games are against NFC North teams.

That means that the Bears have to be playing their best football in the second half of the season if they want to make it to the postseason after a three-year hiatus. This is a big advantage for Chicago which is a newly-formed team. The easier games in the first half of the season are an excellent opportunity for the Bears to gel.

With playoff hopes in mind, there are a few games that are absolutely must-wins for the Bears. Here are three that strike me as the ones the Bears have to win no matter what.

1- Week 12 vs. Vikings - Sunday, Nov. 24

If the Bears want to make some noise in the NFC North, they can't afford to make any mistakes against the weakest team in the division, especially at home.

After this Week 12 matchup against the Vikings, Chicago goes on a three-game road trip, against the Lions, 49ers, and the Vikings. Considering how difficult that slate is going to be, the Bears need to take care of Minnesota at home to build some momentum for the final stretch.

Last season, the Bears and the Vikings split the season series, both teams winning on the road. They both finished the year 7-10, missing the playoffs.

However, with Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy replacing Kirk Cousins as the QB1, the Vikings aren't projected to be the same level of team in 2024.