The Chicago Bears unveiled their 2020 schedule last week, where we learned exactly when they’ll face their 2020 opponents. While the beginning of the season looks favorable, Chicago faces a difficult stretch in the final nine games.
When looking at the first quarter of the Bears’ 2020 schedule, it’s reasonable to assume they could start the season 4-0 with home games against the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts, as well as away games against the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.
Let’s take a look at the Bears’ first four games of the 2020 season, including way-too-early game predictions.
Week 1 | Bears at Lions
The Bears haven’t won in Week 1 since 2013, but they have a good chance of reversing their fortunes against the Lions in 2020. Since Matt Nagy arrived in 2018, the Bears have gone 4-0 against their NFC North rivals, including back-to-back Thanksgiving victories.
Chicago will open the season at Detroit, where the Lions have proven to put up more of a fight. In the last two years, the Bears and Lions entered the fourth quarter tied, which should make for an exciting finish like Eddie Jackson’s pick six or Mitchell Trubisky to David Montgomery’s game-winning touchdown.
Prediction: Bears 24-17
Check out game-by-game score predictions from around the NFL Wires network:
Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC //// Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea
Week 2 | Bears vs. Giants
The Bears will face the Giants for the third straight year in what will serve as Chicago’s home opener. The two teams met twice last season — once in preseason and once in the regular season. The Bears hosted the Giants in Week 12, where they eked out a 19-14 win.
New York is coming off a 4-12 season following difficulties on both offense and defense. While the Bears and Giants have split their previous two meetings, the Bears have a good chance to get off to a 2-0 start if they can take care of business against the Giants at home.
Prediction: Bears 28-10
Check out game-by-game score predictions from around the NFL Wires network:
Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC //// Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea
Week 3 | Bears at Falcons
The Bears will face the Falcons for the first time since 2017, where they’ll face an early test on the road in Atlanta. The last time these two teams met, Mike Glennon was making his first start for the Bears. Chicago fell short in that game after Jordan Howard’s dropped pass at the one-yard line in the closing seconds of the game.
Atlanta is coming off a disappointing 7-9 season, which was still good enough for a second-place finish in the NFC South. But the Falcons will still have to contend with the reigning division champion New Orleans Saints and the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The hope is the Bears can take advantage of a favorable schedule early on, which would include a win over the Falcons.
Prediction: Bears 23-17
Check out game-by-game score predictions from around the NFL Wires network:
Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC //// Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea
Week 4 | Bears vs. Colts
Chicago will close out its first quarter with a home game against the Colts. This will be the first time since 2016 that the Bears will play the Colts. The last time these two teams met, Indianapolis held off a late comeback effort by Chicago, who couldn’t convert on a fourth-and-8 in the closing minutes, to win 29-23.
The Colts are coming off a 7-9 season, but they added veteran quarterback Philip Rivers this offseason. Chicago faced Rivers’ Chargers last season, which ended in a gut-wrenching 17-16 loss for the Bears. The Bears will look to reverse their fortunes at home against the Colts in Week 4.
Prediction: Bears 20-13
Check out game-by-game score predictions from around the NFL Wires network:
Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC //// Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea
