Getty

The Chicago Bears won the NFC North with an 11-6 record in 2025.

Before the schedule for the 2026 NFL season was even released, the Chicago Bears were already tagged with the toughest test. The Bears were ranked with the hardest strength of schedule for next season based on opponent win percentage from 2025. 

However, despite this uphill climb Chicago will face, a massive advantage was revealed within their schedule, now that it is official. 

After having bye weeks within the first seven games of the year for back-to-back seasons, the Chicago Bears will now get to rest in Week 10 of 2026. 

Sports Illustrated’s David McKay argues why this is the biggest blessing for Chicago.

Chicago Bears Bye Week Comes After A Brutal Prime-Time Stretch

“Chicago’s bye falls in Week 10, right in the sweet spot of the season,” McKay states. “Not too early, not too late and the surrounding schedule makes it even better. Before the break, the Bears face a demanding stretch featuring three nationally televised games in three weeks: a Thursday night home matchup against New England in Week 7, a Monday night road trip to Seattle in Week 8, and a Sunday night showdown against Tampa Bay in Week 9. That type of stretch can wear a team down physically and mentally. Which is exactly why the Week 10 bye feels so valuable.”

McKay continues to elaborate that the Bears’ Week 7 Thursday night matchup provides them a mini bye before their Week 8 Monday night matchup against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks. 

The bye breaking up that brutal stretch then allows them to refuel before an extremely tough end-of-season gauntlet that includes the Lions (twice), the Packers, the Jaguars, and the Bills. Not to mention that they play on Thanksgiving and Christmas within that stretch as well.

Heading into year two of the Ben Johnson era, Chicago has earned a lot of expectations. The Bears will be featured in prime time seven times next season. It’s the type of pressure that could cause a lesser team to crumble. However, as Johnson made clear in his end-of-season press conference, the team won’t be focused on the outside noise and will be starting fresh in 2026.

 “There is no building off of this,” Johnson stated in January. “We go back to square one. We are back at the bottom again and that’s really all 32 teams. If you feel otherwise, you’re probably missing the big picture.”

Other Key Takeaways From The Bears’ Schedule

GettyThe Chicago Bears were 2-4 against the NFC North during the 2025 Regular season.

Beyond the optimal bye week slot and prime-time recognition, there are a few other notable details about the Bears’ schedule. Three of the Bears’ first four games are at home before they travel to the Packers for the first time in Week 5. The Bears will have a great opportunity to enter that brutal prime-time stretch with a two-game lead in the division.

Then, on the flip side of the season, they finish the season with a three-game NFC North bout. Fortunately, they face the Packers and Lions at home before ending with the Vikings on the road. Depending on how Chicago lands coming out of the bye week, that final divisional stretch could be make-or-break for them repeating as champions.

But before Chicago can focus on the postseason, they’ll have to start with the regular season. Their first opponent is set for September 13th, in a road battle with the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers.