The 2025 NFL season is in the rearview mirror, and for the Chicago Bears, it's a season that marked a turning point. Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears didn’t just improve - they flipped the script entirely, going from the NFC North basement to division champs. They snapped a 15-year playoff win drought, made a strong postseason push, and sent a clear message: this team is officially in the mix.
But the work is far from done. As the Bears step into a pivotal 2026 offseason, there are still some key areas that need attention - most notably on the defensive side of the ball.
The defensive line is due for a serious makeover, and GM Ryan Poles has some tough salary cap decisions on the horizon. The foundation is there, but to stay in the contender conversation, Chicago needs to shore up its front seven and make the right financial moves.
While we’re still a few months out from the official 2026 NFL schedule release, we already know who the Bears will be lining up against next season. And with a first-place finish comes a first-place slate - this year’s schedule is no cakewalk.
Who the Bears Will Face in 2026
In addition to the usual six divisional games against the Lions, Packers, and Vikings, the Bears will take on the NFC South and AFC East. That means home games against teams like the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and road trips to face the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers. Thanks to their NFC North crown, they’ll also face the top finishers from the NFC East, NFC West, and AFC South - matchups that could have serious playoff implications down the line.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2026 opponents:
Home Opponents:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Detroit Lions
- One NFC East first-place team
Away Opponents:
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Seattle Seahawks
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- One AFC South first-place team
- One NFC West first-place team
First Look at the 2026 Slate
Looking at the full lineup, there’s no question - this is a challenging schedule. Chicago will face seven teams that made the playoffs in 2025, and that includes some heavy hitters.
The Bills, Jaguars, and Eagles all stand out as matchups that could test the Bears’ growth on both sides of the ball. Add in the always-tough divisional games, and it’s clear the road to repeating as NFC North champs won’t be easy.
That said, there are some favorable matchups baked in. The NFC South, which struggled as a division last season, offers some winnable games. And while the AFC East features playoff-caliber squads like the Bills and Dolphins, teams like the Patriots and Jets are still in various stages of rebuilding.
What makes this schedule particularly interesting is how it mirrors the Bears’ 2024 situation. That year, they were projected to have one of the toughest slates in the league - and yet, thanks to a few teams underperforming, it ended up being more manageable than expected.
That kind of unpredictability is part of what makes the NFL so compelling. Teams rise, teams fall, and what looks like a gauntlet in February might look very different come September.
The Road Ahead
The Bears have momentum. They’ve got a young, ascending roster, a coaching staff that proved it can lead a turnaround, and a fanbase that finally has reason to believe again. But with success comes expectation, and the 2026 schedule is a reminder that staying at the top is often harder than getting there.
This offseason will be critical. If Ryan Poles can nail the draft, make the right calls in free agency, and patch up the defensive front, the Bears will be in position to not just compete - but to take another step forward. And with the kind of matchups they’ve got lined up, we’ll find out quickly whether this team is built to last.