The NFL is set to release its 2020 schedule on Thursday, which means we’ll finally know exactly when the Chicago Bears will face their 2020 opponents — assuming the 2020 season commences as planned.
Last season, the Bears landed five primetime games, as well as an international game and a Thanksgiving showdown against NFC North rivals the Detroit Lions. Following a 12-4 record and a postseason appearance — including a dominant defense and up-and-coming offense — the Bears were a team on the rise.
Although, don’t expect another five-game primetime affair for the Bears, who are coming off a disappointing 8-8 season. The NFL targets teams that are slated to bring in large viewership — teams that are coming off impressive seasons that a wider NFL audience want a glimpse of.
That wasn’t the 2019 Bears, who floundered in three of their five primetime games last season. But the Bears are still a big market for the NFL, so they’re likely to draw a couple of primetime games in 2020.
Let’s take a look at five games that are most likely to land the Bears a primetime billing this season.
Bears at/vs. Packers
For the last two years, the Bears and Packers have opened the season in primetime — although those contests have been forgettable for Chicago. In Matt Nagy’s first game as Bears head coach, Chicago lost in heartbreaking fashion as Aaron Rodgers led an improbable comeback to defeat the Bears 24-23. And last season’s season opener was even more gut-wrenching, as the Bears were embarrassed on national television in a game that set the tone for their disappointing season.
The draw of the NFL’s oldest rivalry is certainly something that makes Bears-Packers an enticing draw each season. And while the Bears are coming off a disappointing 2019 season, you figure it’d be hard for the NFL to pass up another primetime affair between the Bears and Packers as they head into a new century of professional football. Although, the Bears haven’t fared well in the previous two primetime showings. So Bears fans are probably hoping the NFL passes on this primetime matchup.
Bears at Rams
Much like with the Packers, the Bears have faced the Rams on primetime in the previous two seasons. Chicago bested the eventual NFC Champion Rams 15-6, where the Bears defense completely shutdown one of the league’s best offenses on national television. But last year’s game wasn’t the result the Bears were hoping for. With a playoff spot on the line, the Bears offense sputtered and they were bested 17-7, a game that seemed to be the catalyst for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s murky future.
When you have two of the NFL’s best defenses squaring off, it’s certainly a draw for the league. It also helps that Chicago and Los Angeles are two of the NFL’s biggest markets, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a third straight primetime showdown between the Bears and Rams. If that’s the case, let’s hope for a different result this time around in Los Angeles, where the Rams will be playing in their brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium.
Bears vs. Texans
The Mitchell Trubisky vs. Deshaun Watson game — assuming Trubisky wins the starting job over Nick Foles. Which, at this time, many don’t believe he will. But even if he doesn’t, the talk surrounding this game — be it in primetime or not — will be about how general manager Ryan Pace took Trubisky over Watson, a narrative fans are well-aware of but the media will never let them live down.
But even without the Trubisky-Watson storyline, this could be another defensive showdown between two of the NFL’s best defenses. Let’s be honest, Chicago’s defense is the big-time draw for this team, as it’s always been. And getting to see what they can do against one of the NFL’s rising stars in Watson would be something would definitely tune in to.
Bears at/vs. Vikings
While Bears vs. Vikings doesn’t have quite the same allure as Bears vs. Packers, there’s just something about divisional games that can make for some great football. After all, these teams know each other better than anyone, so sometimes you’re due for some shocking results. Or more of the same.
The Bears have had the Vikings’ number over the past two seasons, going 4-0 against them since Matt Nagy took over as head coach. One of those games was a memorable Sunday Night Football showdown in 2018, where Chicago dominated Minnesota 25-20. It was a performance that established the Bears defense as one of the best in the league, which carried through the rest of the season. Given the Bears have struggled on primetime against the Packers, it’d be nice to see them get a primetime win over a division foe.
Bears vs. Saints
The last time that the Bears played the Saints, their offense was downright abysmal. Which didn’t exactly make for a great football game, unless you’re a Saints fan. But the Bears can’t be as bad as they were last season, right? So perhaps a primetime affair at Soldier Field would make for a potential statement game for Chicago.
Given the Bears faced the Teddy Bridgewater-led Saints last season, it would be interesting to see how this Chicago defense would fare against Drew Brees this time around. When you have one of the NFL’s biggest markets and one of the NFC’s top teams squaring off, there’s definitely some intrigue there.
