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The Chicago Bears, along with the rest of the NFL, had their 2026 schedule released on Thursday night with plenty of marquee matchups on the books. Chicago is one of eight teams that will have five prime-time games this season, on top of two holiday games, showing the league's investment in quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson.
After an 11-6 season last year, which saw them get all the way to the divisional playoffs, the Bears will be looking to build off of that success this season. With a high level of difficulty and tough strength of schedule, Chicago will have their work cut out for them from beginning to end, truly testing their place among top contenders in the NFL.
With the full schedule out now, we're ranking their opponents, starting with the toughest ones on schedule in a competitive full-season slate.
A top contender in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills line up as the biggest marquee matchup for the Bears this season. Facing a former friend in wide receiver DJ Moore and former MVP Josh Allen, this will be the biggest test for Chicago to see where they line up against top contenders in the league.
One of the only teams who had the upper hand against Chicago last year, Ben Johnson is still looking for his first win over his former team. Despite the several changes they saw on the offensive line this offseason, the Detroit Lions are going to be a top contender in the NFC, putting of plenty of importance on the two regular season matchups.
Seattle's offense may be a bit different this year after losing running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency, their defense will still be their biggest benefactor and talking point. There will be a bit bigger feeling in this matchup as Bears safety Coby Bryant will face his former team, just one season after winning the Super Bowl with the Seahawks. It will be a great test for Caleb Williams and the offense against their high-powered defense.
Last year's win over the Philadelphia Eagles felt like the launching pad to the Bears' deep run in the second half of the season. Philadelphia will be out for revenge and their offense could look much different with a revamped wide receiver room. This was a key game for Chicago last year and that will not change this season.
Despite any off-field storylines this offseason, the New England Patriots are a very good football team that is also well coached. Rumors about a potential trade for AJ Brown in June could elevate this team to another level, offensively, and this could be one of the most intriguing games on the NFL schedule this season.
In the hearts and minds of many, the two meetings with Green Bay are of the utmost importance this season. The rivalry is alive and well, Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur have helped elevate the rivalry to another level, and Chicago had the upper hand last season. Green Bay will be out for revenge and the fact that these two teams will play on Christmas Day is not only a holiday treat for the fans, but could have significant draft implications as well.
The Carolina Panthers shocked a lot of people last season, and there will always be the Bryce Young-Caleb Williams connection that sent the two quarterbacks to their respected franchises in a 2023 trade. Carolina's offense is an intriguing one, as they have one of the tallest wide receiver rooms in the league, presenting a specific and unique challenge for the Bears secondary in this one.
No matter who he has around him, Baker Mayfield is a tough test for anyone. Tampa Bay's defense, specifically their pass rush, has not been dominant of late, but they made sure to address that in the draft this year. Tampa Bay's got a strong offense but it is simply Mayfield's will power that makes every game against his teams a tough one.
The Jacksonville Jaguars saw some significant changes this offseason, most notably losing running back Travis Etienne to the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the league, but the Jaguars may depend on how well former No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter returns from injury. Whether Hunter is exclusive to the defensive side of the football remains to be seen, but Jacksonville has to make a choice for the long-term future of one of the best talents on their roster.
On paper, the New Orleans Saints upgraded in several areas, especially their offense where they loaded up to surround quarterback Tyler Shough with offensive weapons. There are going to be question marks about the defense, but the offense for New Orleans is going to be fun to watch this season. If they can make strides in the second season for Shough, they may not be as much of a pushover on the schedule that many fans might expect.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell is going to be a tough challenge for very team the Minnesota Vikings face, but the quarterback situation is a major question mark. The team added Kyler Murray this offseason to compete with J.J. McCarthy, and they still have several dangerous wide receivers, but the toughness of this matchup comes down to who is playing quarterback when they face the Bears in both matchups this year.
Quarterback play is a big reason why the New York Jets are at the bottom of this list. Signing veteran Geno Smith to return to New York after he fizzled out in Las Vegas last year, the Jets will be hoping for a second career resurgence out of him. Second year head coach Aaron Glenn will have his hands full with this Jets team and they're coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in recent history last year. Their defense went the whole year without recording an interception, but they made several additions this offseason to help bolster their roster.
The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Malik Willis this offseason but traded away most of their core pieces and are in the beginning of a rebuild. Miami should be a matchup in which Chicago circles on the calendar because they'll meet in December, when the Bears should be making a push for the playoffs and will not be able to afford slipping in any matchups where they'll likely be a considerable favorite.
Bringing in a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Atlanta Falcons are looking to find direction in the 2026 season. Whether it's Tagovailoa or Micahel Penix, the Falcons have plenty of offensive weapons for their quarterback to utilize, but there's still plenty of unanswered questions. They've got a high-level pass rusher in second-year pro Jalon Walker, but the Falcons have the biggest question mark of all Chicago's opponents when it comes to quarterbacks, putting them at the bottom of this list.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2026 schedule: Ranking Chicago's toughest opponents
Continue reading...
After an 11-6 season last year, which saw them get all the way to the divisional playoffs, the Bears will be looking to build off of that success this season. With a high level of difficulty and tough strength of schedule, Chicago will have their work cut out for them from beginning to end, truly testing their place among top contenders in the NFL.
With the full schedule out now, we're ranking their opponents, starting with the toughest ones on schedule in a competitive full-season slate.
1. Buffalo Bills
A top contender in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills line up as the biggest marquee matchup for the Bears this season. Facing a former friend in wide receiver DJ Moore and former MVP Josh Allen, this will be the biggest test for Chicago to see where they line up against top contenders in the league.
2. Detroit Lions
One of the only teams who had the upper hand against Chicago last year, Ben Johnson is still looking for his first win over his former team. Despite the several changes they saw on the offensive line this offseason, the Detroit Lions are going to be a top contender in the NFC, putting of plenty of importance on the two regular season matchups.
3. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle's offense may be a bit different this year after losing running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency, their defense will still be their biggest benefactor and talking point. There will be a bit bigger feeling in this matchup as Bears safety Coby Bryant will face his former team, just one season after winning the Super Bowl with the Seahawks. It will be a great test for Caleb Williams and the offense against their high-powered defense.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
Last year's win over the Philadelphia Eagles felt like the launching pad to the Bears' deep run in the second half of the season. Philadelphia will be out for revenge and their offense could look much different with a revamped wide receiver room. This was a key game for Chicago last year and that will not change this season.
5. New England Patriots
Despite any off-field storylines this offseason, the New England Patriots are a very good football team that is also well coached. Rumors about a potential trade for AJ Brown in June could elevate this team to another level, offensively, and this could be one of the most intriguing games on the NFL schedule this season.
6. Green Bay Packers
In the hearts and minds of many, the two meetings with Green Bay are of the utmost importance this season. The rivalry is alive and well, Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur have helped elevate the rivalry to another level, and Chicago had the upper hand last season. Green Bay will be out for revenge and the fact that these two teams will play on Christmas Day is not only a holiday treat for the fans, but could have significant draft implications as well.
7. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers shocked a lot of people last season, and there will always be the Bryce Young-Caleb Williams connection that sent the two quarterbacks to their respected franchises in a 2023 trade. Carolina's offense is an intriguing one, as they have one of the tallest wide receiver rooms in the league, presenting a specific and unique challenge for the Bears secondary in this one.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No matter who he has around him, Baker Mayfield is a tough test for anyone. Tampa Bay's defense, specifically their pass rush, has not been dominant of late, but they made sure to address that in the draft this year. Tampa Bay's got a strong offense but it is simply Mayfield's will power that makes every game against his teams a tough one.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars saw some significant changes this offseason, most notably losing running back Travis Etienne to the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the league, but the Jaguars may depend on how well former No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter returns from injury. Whether Hunter is exclusive to the defensive side of the football remains to be seen, but Jacksonville has to make a choice for the long-term future of one of the best talents on their roster.
10. New Orleans Saints
On paper, the New Orleans Saints upgraded in several areas, especially their offense where they loaded up to surround quarterback Tyler Shough with offensive weapons. There are going to be question marks about the defense, but the offense for New Orleans is going to be fun to watch this season. If they can make strides in the second season for Shough, they may not be as much of a pushover on the schedule that many fans might expect.
11. Minnesota Vikings
Head coach Kevin O'Connell is going to be a tough challenge for very team the Minnesota Vikings face, but the quarterback situation is a major question mark. The team added Kyler Murray this offseason to compete with J.J. McCarthy, and they still have several dangerous wide receivers, but the toughness of this matchup comes down to who is playing quarterback when they face the Bears in both matchups this year.
12. New York Jets
Quarterback play is a big reason why the New York Jets are at the bottom of this list. Signing veteran Geno Smith to return to New York after he fizzled out in Las Vegas last year, the Jets will be hoping for a second career resurgence out of him. Second year head coach Aaron Glenn will have his hands full with this Jets team and they're coming off one of the most disappointing seasons in recent history last year. Their defense went the whole year without recording an interception, but they made several additions this offseason to help bolster their roster.
13. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Malik Willis this offseason but traded away most of their core pieces and are in the beginning of a rebuild. Miami should be a matchup in which Chicago circles on the calendar because they'll meet in December, when the Bears should be making a push for the playoffs and will not be able to afford slipping in any matchups where they'll likely be a considerable favorite.
14. Atlanta Falcons
Bringing in a new head coach in Kevin Stefanski and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Atlanta Falcons are looking to find direction in the 2026 season. Whether it's Tagovailoa or Micahel Penix, the Falcons have plenty of offensive weapons for their quarterback to utilize, but there's still plenty of unanswered questions. They've got a high-level pass rusher in second-year pro Jalon Walker, but the Falcons have the biggest question mark of all Chicago's opponents when it comes to quarterbacks, putting them at the bottom of this list.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2026 schedule: Ranking Chicago's toughest opponents
Continue reading...
