The Chicago Bears unveiled their 2026 schedule last week, which features a difficult slate for a team looking to retain their NFC North title and make a statement in head coach Ben Johnson’s second season.
In addition to facing their NFC foes twice, the Bears will play the NFC South and AFC East next season, which includes home games against the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as away games against the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers. With the Bears finishing first in the NFC North, they’ll also face the same-place finishers in the NFC East, NFC West and AFC South.
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Our Bears Wire staff are sharing their game-by-game and record predictions for the 2026 season.
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 1: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 1: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 20, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, Sept. 28, 8:05 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 4: vs. New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 5: at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 6: at Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 7: vs. New England Patriots, Thursday, Oct. 22, 8:15 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 8: at Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Nov. 1, 8:05 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 8, 8:15 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 12: at Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 26, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 13: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 6, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 14: at Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 15: at Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Dec. 19, 8:20 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 16: vs. Green Bay Packers, Friday, Dec. 25, 1 p.m. ET
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Chicago Bears 2026 schedule
Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 3, 4:25 p.m. ET
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8 things to know about the 2026 Bears schedule
Week 18: at Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 10, Time TBA
Week 1: Bears at PanthersWeek 2: Bears vs. VikingsWeek 3: Bears vs. EaglesWeek 4: Bears vs. JetsWeek 5: Bears at PackersWeek 6: Bears at FalconsWeek 7: Bears vs. PatriotsWeek 8: Bears at SeahawksWeek 9: Bears vs. BuccaneersWeek 10: Bye Week
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Bears 2026 NFL Draft tracker: See all of Chicago’s picks
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)
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Bears 2026 NFL Draft tracker: See all of Chicago’s picks
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Dillon Thieneman in first round (No. 25)
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Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Logan Jones
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Logan Jones
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Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Sam Roush
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Sam Roush
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Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Zavion Thomas
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Zavion Thomas
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Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Malik Muhammad
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select CB Malik Muhammad
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Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Keyshaun Elliott
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Keyshaun Elliott
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Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Jordan van den Berg
2026 NFL Draft: Bears select Jordan van den Berg
Week 11: Bears vs. SaintsWeek 12: Bears at LionsWeek 13: Bears vs. JaguarsWeek 14: Bears at DolphinsWeek 15: Bears at BillsWeek 16: Bears vs. PackersWeek 17: Bears vs. LionsWeek 18: Bears at VikingsFinal Record Predictions
Alyssa: Chicago has the most-difficult schedule this season (by last year’s results), which includes stints against the AFC East and NFC South, as well as facing their division foes twice. While every game is winnable, there are some difficult stretches and no shortage of prime-time and holiday games. With that in mind, my way-too-early predictions (the most optimistic I’ll be at any point this year) has the Bears finishing the 2026 NFL season at 12-5, where they sweep the Packers and split with the Lions and Vikings, and it could very well be enough to win another division title. Prediction: 11-6
Brendan: I hate being the pessimist of the group and while I still think the Bears are poised for a good season, this isn’t going to be easy. A big issue with Ben Johnson’s squad a year ago was their inability to start fast. That was seen both in the schedule and individual games. I can see the Bears dropping their Week 1 game to Carolina and finishing the first quarter of the season with a .500 record before finding a groove. I need to see them get off to a fast start before believing it.
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I am also not convinced the defense can replicate their turnover success and drastically improve the pass rush with minimal additions made. The Bears coaches put the emphasis on themselves to be better but will that translate to success in the regular season? All in all, I believe the Bears can rattle off four wins in five games to put themselves in prime playoff position by Thanksgiving. After that, there is only one game I feel truly confident that they will win. The Bears aren’t sneaking up on anyone this year and we’ve seen past teams fall flat when expectations are high. Earning a playoff berth would still be a successful season. Prediction: 10-7
Mike: The Bears have to improve on their 2025 season, and if that means just winning one more game than last season, then it will be a success. There are going to be more questions than answers early in the season, especially on the defensive side of the field, but with a weaker schedule compared to the second half of the year, Chicago has to take advantage. One big key for the team as a whole would be what they’re capable of in the third season with Caleb Williams at quarterback, hopefully not needing to have several comebacks in the fourth quarter. The Cardiac Bears were fun, but the success is not sustainable for the long haul, and they have to show a more complete team from start to finish this season. Prediction: 12-5
Vinnie: The Chicago Bears, here in May, look like one of the best teams in the NFC going into the 2026 season. With Caleb Williams entering year three of his pro development and Ben Johnson’s second year, the team should take yet another step. Beating the Green Bay Packers twice will be tough, and a couple of great teams are on the schedule, but the Bears should be able to stay in the game with just about anyone. An improvement within the division should help their overall record heading into the postseason. A 13-4 record could have them in the mix for the number one seed. Prediction: 13-4
Preston: Chicago had a taste of a more competitive schedule in the back half of the 2025 regular season, and at 11-6, having won the NFC North, Chicago is now awarded a first-place schedule. The NFL did a good job of spreading out the schedule. There are tough spots in the middle of the season, then again in the back half. Carolina to begin the season is no game to look past. A team that, under Dave Canales, has only grown each season he’s been at the helm made the playoffs last season and nearly knocked off the Los Angeles Rams. The NFC North will be as competitive as it was last season, and for a second straight season, Chicago will host the Minnesota Vikings in their home-opener. The Bears vs. Eagles rematch happened early in the season on MNF, and the Bears vs. Packers gets an early week 5 matchup and then a Christmas Day matchup. With seven primetime games this year, the NFL wanted to put Chicago in front of the whole world.
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But the biggest part of the whole schedule will be the Bears’ final eight games of the season. With a bye week halfway through in week 10, opponents such as the Saints, Detroit twice, who Chicago didn’t beat last season, hosting a Jaguars team coming off their best season with Trevor Lawrence, a trip to Buffalo, and then Packers, Vikings, and Lions to end the schedule will be tough, which is why I have the Bears at 11-6 once again.
They will go 3-3 against the NFC North, split with the Super Bowl teams, and go 4-4 against playoff teams from a season ago. It almost feels like there is more pressure this season for Chicago to get back to the playoffs and defend their NFC North title. Chicago hasn’t had back-to-back winning seasons since 2005-2006, and it won’t be easy to get it done. Chicago has the NFL’s toughest schedule at .550, and it seems that since 2016, it hasn’t favored those teams. Only three teams since 2016 have made the playoffs, having the NFL’s toughest schedule, and only one, the 2016 Atlanta Falcons, won a playoff game. Prediction: 11-6
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears game-by-game, record predictions for 2026 season