The Bears wasted no time making a statement in Week 1, hanging 59 points on the board and opening the season 1-0 in a way that turned heads fast. Ben Johnson’s offense looked every bit as dangerous as advertised, and that kind of start only fuels the idea that 2026 could be something special on that side of the ball.
Chicago’s offense, at least based on what it showed in the opener, feels complete. The defense still brings real questions, but when the attack is humming like that, it can cover up a lot. With that in mind, here’s how the next three games stack up for the Bears.
The first test comes in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. Kyler Murray is in concussion protocol, which opens the door for Carson Wentz to start, and either way Chicago looks like the stronger team.
Minnesota does have a wide receiver group that can make life uncomfortable, and the Bears’ secondary is not exactly a strength, but this one being at home matters. More important, the Vikings’ quarterback situation limits how much they can keep up if Chicago starts scoring in bunches.
The pick here is a Bears win, 28-20.
Week 3 brings the Philadelphia Eagles to town for what would be the second straight home game. The article notes that A.J.
Brown is no longer in the picture, and that changes the ceiling of the Eagles offense. Jalen Hurts is also described as not being the pure passer Caleb Williams is, which gives Chicago an edge at quarterback.
Even so, Vic Fangio’s defense is known for being tough to crack, so the Bears need to avoid getting dragged into a defensive game where Philadelphia would be more comfortable. Given how explosive Chicago looked in Week 1, a slow offensive night doesn’t feel likely.
That leads to a projected 3-0 start.
Then comes Week 4 against the New York Jets, and now the conversation shifts to whether the Bears can really get to 4-0. The answer: it’s possible.
Chicago is viewed as the better team across the board, and the Jets’ bigger-picture plan seems aimed at taking a major swing on a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, helped by a trio of first-round picks next April. That doesn’t change what happens in 2026, though.
Geno Smith is not in the same universe as Williams, and the Bears also hold the roster edge. One extra wrinkle: this matchup would feature two former Detroit Lions coordinators, with Aaron Glenn and Johnson having both served on that staff once upon a time.
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