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 second quarter of the Bears’ 2020 schedule, it’s the beginning of a difficult stretch for Chicago, where they’ll face three NFC South teams in the next four games.
The Bears will play two prime-time games in those next four games, including a home matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football and road game against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. Chicago will also host the New Orleans Saints for the second straight year, which should be a big test for the Bears at the midway point of the season.
Let’s take a look at the Bears’ next four games of the 2020 season, including way-too-early game predictions.
Week 5 | Bears vs. Buccaneers
The Bears will open their second quarter under the lights in a home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. The last time these two teams met, the Bears routed the Bucs 48-10 behind Mitchell Trubisky’s six-touchdown performance. But these aren’t those same Bucs from two seasons ago. Chicago will face quarterback Tom Brady and the Bruce Arians-led Bucs, which many have pegged for a strong season. This will be an early test for the Bears, but it’s also a game that they certainly have a chance of winning.
Prediction: Buccaneers 17-13
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
Week 6 | Bears at Panthers
The Bears will hit the road in Week 6 to take on the Panthers, who are a bit of a question mark. Four years removed from appearing in Super Bowl 50, the Panthers are in rebuilding mode. They’ve moved on from quarterback Cam Newton, replacing him with Teddy Bridgewater. Their former top-10 defense has dealt with the retirements of some key pieces, including Luke Kuechly. But the Bears still have to contend with one the NFL’s biggest weapons in running back Christian McCaffery, who was rewarded with a massive contract extension earlier this offseason. These two teams last played in 2017, where rookie safety Eddie Jackson’s two defensive touchdowns led Chicago to a 17-3 victory.
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
Week 7 | Bears at Rams
For the third straight season, the Bears and Rams will meet in primetime armed with two of the NFL’s best defenses. Both the Bears and Rams missed the postseason last season just one year after making the playoffs, and both of them will be looking to rebound in competitive divisions in 2020. These teams have split these last two games — the Bears winning in Chicago and the Rams winning in Los Angeles — and we’ll see if this proves to be another defensive showdown where one offense will ultimately have to rise to the challenge.
Prediction: Bears 17-14
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 8 | Bears vs. Saints
The last time the Bears hosted the Saints, Chicago’s offense put on an absolutely abysmal offensive showing against a Teddy Bridgewater-led Saints team in a 36-25 loss. The Bears will get a chance for redemption again at Soldier Field, where they’ll face quarterback Drew Brees for what could likely be his final appearance in Chicago. The game will certainly be a test — especially considering the outcome in 2019 — and we’ll see if the offense and defense can rise to a big challenge.
Prediction: Saints 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
