The long-awaited 2023 schedule for the Chicago Bears has finally been unveiled! Without further ado, let’s dive straight into a swift yet insightful breakdown of the season’s lineup, sharing what’s top of mind now that the schedule is here.
Week 1 – Sunday, September 10: Green Bay Packers at Bears
Talk about wasting no time. After three decades of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers taking it to the Bears (47-18 combined record versus Chicago), the NFL is wasting no time with ushering in the new era as Jordan Love heads to Chicago to take on Justin Fields in a big-time Week 1 matchup. Is this the beginning of a new age where the Bears take the upper hand? You know both franchises see this game as an opportunity to set the tone for the new chapter in the most storied rivalry in football.
Week 2 – Sunday, September 17: Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady is retired (double-checked, and is still retired) which means it’s time for some Mayfield Magic in Tampa Bay. Let’s hope his magic is minimal in this contest. This game coming so soon in the season should be an advantage for the Bears as they’ll still be in the early portion of their transition away from Brady. Facing two teams back-to-back that no longer have future HOF quarterbacks to kick off the season is an interesting development.
Week 3 – Sunday, September 24: Bears at Kansas City Chiefs
Talk about a true road test in the first quarter of the season. The Bears will be challenged in every phase when they travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs. Even though the Bears will be massive underdogs in this one, the hope is Fields looks the part to hang in there with the best in the game right now in Patrick Mahomes.
Week 4 – Sunday, October 1: Denver Broncos at Bears
This will mark the fifth time Russell Wilson has faced the Bears and he’s currently 2-2 against Chicago and has seven touchdowns to just one interception. But that was then, and this is now. And what we don’t know is what to expect from Wilson after a down year in Denver. Even with new head coach Sean Payton, it’s difficult to determine what Russ will be cooking this season.
Week 5 – Thursday Night, October 5: Bears at Washington Commanders
For the second-straight season, the Bears will take on the Commanders in October on Thursday night football. The Bears scored a season-low seven points last time they took on Washington, and you better believe Justin Fields will want to prove to Washington’s defense that the Bears are much improved compared to the last time they met.
Week 6 – Sunday, October 15: Minnesota Vikings at Bears
The Bears get a “mini-bye” before the Vikings come to town. Minnesota has won the last four contests between these two teams. Kirk Cousins threw for the most yards against the Bears in a single game last season with 312 passing yards in Week 5. Also, Cousins and Nick Mullens combined for 341 passing yards in Week 18 — both were the largest totals the Bears gave up through the air in 2022. This game will serve as a crucial litmus test to determine how improved the Bears’ passing defense is.
Week 7 – Sunday, October 22: Las Vegas Raiders at Bears
This will be Justin Fields’ second time playing the Raiders. He beat them as a rookie on the road back in 2021. But can Fields and the Bears take down Jimmy Garoppolo who has never lost to Chicago? He beat them in 2014 as a Patriot, and twice more as a 49er. The Bears hope to interrupt this pattern and not allow him to do the same as a Raider.
Week 8 – Sunday Night, October 29: Bears at Los Angeles Chargers
Darnell Wright better be ready when the Bears are in LA to face the Chargers as Khalil Mack may have some “revenge” on his mind when he squares off against the second team that dealt him away in his career. Justin Fields vs Justin Herbert? Yes, please!
Week 9 – Sunday, November 5: Bears at New Orleans Saints
The Bears are going to the bayou to take on the New Orleans Saints! Will the Derek Carr and Chris Olave connection prove difficult? We’ll have to wait and see.
Week 10 – Thursday Night, November 9: Carolina Panthers at Bears
DJ Moore revenge game alert! Wouldn’t it be nice to watch Fields and Moore shine throughout this game while Bryce Young struggles? Wouldn’t that just feel like the Bears made the absolute best out of their decision to trade the first-overall pick to Carolina? Plus, adding another “L” to the Panthers’ loss column will benefit the Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft as they own the rights to the Panthers’ first-round pick.
Week 11 – Sunday, November 19: Bears at Detroit Lions
A lot of people are loving on the Lions entering this season and believe they will be a force to be dealt with within the division. I have a feeling the Bears will have a thing or two to say about that. This should be a gritty game through and through. It will resemble the Bears’ one-point loss to the Lions in mid-November more than the 31-point blowout in Week 17 of last season.
Week 12 – Monday Night, November 27: Bears at Minnesota Vikings
The Bears will head on the road for a primetime matchup against the Vikings in a hostile environment. This will be no easy task as the Vikings are 13-4 at home since 2021.
Week 13 – BYE WEEK
After 12 games the Bears finally have a moment to catch their breath before the final five games of the season. Will it be time to recoup for a playoff push?
Week 14 -Sunday, December 10: Detroit Lions at Bears
Just three short weeks after playing the Lions in Detroit, the Bears will end the 2023 series with a home game here in Week 13. That makes three divisional games in a row for Chicago.
Week 15 – TBD: Bears at Cleveland Browns
Remember the absolute beating that Justin Fields took in his first career start against the Browns? Yeah, I figured. Fields remembers too and this looks like a great opportunity to put that behind him with a solid performance on the road in Cleveland. Everything about the Bears’ offense is better compared to that dreadful day, and it’ll be up to the Bears to prove it!
Week 16 – Sunday, December 24: Arizona Cardinals at Bears
The Cardinals appear to be a team that may struggle in 2023. A lot of this rides on Kyler Murray as he needs to impress the new leadership within the organization. Luckily for the Bears, they’ll know what type of team Arizona has by the time this Christmas Eve matchup takes place. The Bears will also get a good look at Paris Johnson Jr., and hopefully, it’s Chicago’s rookie tackle, Darnell Wright, who puts together the stronger performance in this contest.
Week 17 – Sunday, December 31: Atlanta Falcons at Bears
Bijan Robinson is coming to town! But what will the Bears’ young defensive line with rookies Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens do about it? What about new linebackers TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds? Plus, former Bears GM Ryan Pace gets a close-up look at how the QB he drafted in 2021 is faring in his third season. This is a fun matchup to look forward to!
Week 18 – TBD: Bears at Green Bay Packers
The Bears are headed to Lambeau to take on the Packers to wrap up the season. This will be the third time the Bears have faced the Packers in the season finale since 2013, and the first time doing so in Green Bay since 2010. Will there be anything at stake in this game? If so, the NFL will surely flex it into primetime.
