April 22--John Fox's regular-season debut as the Bears coach will come Sept. 13 in a rivalry showdown at Soldier Field against the Packers. That's the table setter for the Bears' 2015 season and a somewhat theatrical opening for another era in Bears football. But that's far from the only intriguing contest on the itinerary. With the NFL's full schedule announced Tuesday night, the Bears learned their path from Week 1 to Week 17, a slate that includes only two games in prime time, 13 noon kickoffs, a Thanksgiving trip to Green Bay and the season finale Dec. 27 against the Lions at Soldier Field.
Here's a snapshot look at what lies ahead.
Week 1
Sunday, Sept. 13
Vs. Packers, noon, FOX-32
Aaron Rodgers' last four trips into Soldier Field have been dazzling: a .695 completion percentage, 1,208 yards, 12 touchdown passes, three turnovers, four Packers victories.
Extra point: For the sixth consecutive year, the Bears will open the season at home. Last year's overtime loss to the Bills in Week 1 marked the first time since 2009 the Bears had began the year 0-1. It was the first time since '08 that they lost their home opener.
Week 2
Sunday, Sept. 20
Vs. Cardinals, noon, FOX-32
Two-time NFL Coach of the Year Bruce Arians pays a visit to Chicago. If you hadn't heard, he once interviewed for a job here but ended up with the Cardinals.
Extra point: New Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio spent four seasons in the NFC West while with the 49ers. Fangio enjoyed significant success against the Cardinals during that time with his defenses allowing an average of only 15.3 points in eight contests. The 49ers won six of those games.
Week 3
Sunday, Sept. 27
At Seahawks, 3:25 p.m., CBS-2
The two-time defending NFC champs embarrassed the Bears in an exhibition tune-up last summer, building a 31-0 lead by halftime. This time, the result counts.
Extra point: Including the postseason, the Seahawks are 26-2 at CenturyLink Field since the start of the 2012 season. Their lone losses in that span? A 30-23 stumble against the Cowboys in Week 6 last season and a 17-10 stumble vs. the Cardinals in Week 16 of 2013.
Week 4
Sunday, Oct. 4
Vs. Raiders, noon, CBS-2
Yes, the Raiders were 3-13 last year. But a promising rookie class that included Khalil Mack, Derek Carr, Gabe Jackson and Justin Ellis has some optimism bubbling.
Extra point: Jack Del Rio has returned to the head coaching ranks after spending the last three seasons as Fox's defensive coordinator on the Broncos. But just what answers does he have for a franchise that hasn't had a winning record since 2002? And just how long ago was that? Chris Chandler made seven starts as the Bears quarterback that season. Chandler is now nearing his 50th birthday.
Week 5
Sunday, Oct. 11
At Chiefs, noon, FOX-32
As coach in Denver, Fox went 7-1 against the Chiefs. Including his time with the Panthers, Fox's teams are also a perfect 5-0 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Extra point: From 2007-12 the Chiefs won a total of 27 games. Since Andy Reid took over in 2013, the team has won 20 times.
Week 6
Sunday, Oct. 18
At Lions, noon, FOX-32
Ndamukong Suh may have bolted for warmer climes. But Calvin Johnson is still around. Megatron hung 11 grabs, 146 yards and two touchdowns on the Bears last Thanksgiving at Ford Field.
Extra point: The Lions' have swept the season series the last two years and their current four-game winning streak over the Bears is their longest in the rivalry since they won five straight between 1971 and 1973.
Week 7
Open date
Week 8
Sunday, Nov. 1
Vs. Vikings, noon, FOX-32
With or without Adrian Peterson, the Vikings' losing streak at Soldier Field is at seven games and counting. They have won only once in Chicago since 2000.
Extra point: The Bears left TCF Bank Stadium last December with chants of "Ted-dy! Ted-dy!" echoing away from Vikings' fans. After one season, the belief in young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater remains strong in Minneapolis. Now the Vikings are pushing to solidify Bridgewater's supporting cast.
Week 9
Monday, Nov. 9
At Chargers, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Jay Cutler's last start against the Chargers: 286 passing yards, two touchdowns, a 31-20 victory and -- gulp! -- a season-derailing broken thumb in November 2011.
Extra point: The Bears' last trip to Qualcomm Stadium resulted in a 14-3 loss in the 2007 season opener. It was a rough afternoon for both Rex Grossman and Cedric Benson. And Ladainian Tomlinson threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates.
Week 10
Sunday, Nov. 15
At Rams, noon, FOX-32
Set the table for another Long family reunion as brothers Kyle and Chris get after it in the trenches. Important edict: no fights this time.
Extra point: The Rams d-line is quickly coming together as one of the fiercest in football. In addition to Chris Long, defensive end Robert Quinn was the NFC's sack leader in 2013; defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year last season; and 308-pound monster Nick Fairley migrated from the Lions during free agency in March. All four players were top 15 draft picks.
Week 11
Sunday, Nov. 22
Vs. Broncos, noon, CBS-2
John Fox and Adam Gase should be ahead of the game in their advanced scouting of Peyton Manning. A reunion with the Broncos will have added emotion.
Extra point: Manning returns to Soldier Field for the first time since torching the Bears for four touchdown passes in a 41-10 Colts victory in 2004.
Week 12
Thursday, Nov. 26
At Packers, 7:30 p.m., NBC-5
The NFL's oldest rivalry gets a fun new wrinkle: Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field. With a Brett Favre jersey retirement ceremony mixed in. Squeeze your nap in during the afternoon.
Extra point: With a new coaching staff and a revamped roster, the Bears' post-traumatic stress disorder from last season's 55-14 loss at Lambeau should be significantly reduced.
Week 13
Sunday, Dec. 6
Vs. 49ers, noon, FOX-32
The Bears saw the 49ers last September. But since then the 49ers have parted ways with coach Jim Harbaugh, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree and Chris Borland.
Extra point: Any momentum the 49ers had from a 2011-13 stretch that produced 36 regular-season victories, three trips to the NFC championship game and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII seems to be gone. New head coach Jim Tomsula remains rough around the edges as the man in charge.
Week 14
Sunday, Dec. 13
Vs. Redskins, noon, FOX-32
Cutler's history with the Redskins has been painful -- four interceptions to DeAngelo Hall during a 2010 loss at Soldier Field, then a torn groin in another loss three years later.
Extra point: Former Bears defensive tackle Stephen Paea cashed in on a career year in 2014, signing a four-year deal with the Redskins in March that could be worth up to $21 million. Paea is one of five opening-day starters from the Bears' defense in 2014 who is no longer with the team.
Week 15
Sunday, Dec. 20
At Vikings, noon, FOX-32
Another December trip to play outdoors in the Twin Cities raises an important question: When's that new billion dollar stadium opening again? (Answer: Next year.)
Extra point: In their first season away from the Metrodome since 1981, the Vikings went 5-3 last season playing their home games on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
Week 16
Sunday, Dec. 27
At Bucs, noon, FOX-32
Lovie Smith welcomes the Bears to Florida. Will it be rookie quarterback Jameis Winston firing the shots at the Bears' secondary? The current guess is yes.
Extra point: As of now, Smith's Bucs defense is loaded with former Bears. Included on that list: defensive tackle Henry Melton, safeties Chris Conte and Major Wright and cornerback Isaiah Frey.
Week 17
Sunday, Jan. 3
Vs. Lions, noon, FOX-32
With a major rebuilding project ongoing, the Bears are a long shot to be in playoff contention when the calendar flips to 2016. But who knows?
Extra point: The Bears last won their regular season finale in 2012, a 26-24 victory over the Lions that kept them in contention to snag a playoff berth. Those hopes ultimately were dashed a few hours later when the Vikings upset the Packers at the Metrodome to secure the NFC's final wild card.
FULL SCHEDULE
Week 1: vs. Green Bay Packers; Sun., Sep. 13 (noon, FOX)
Week 2: vs. Arizona Cardinals; Sun., Sep. 20 (noon, FOX)
Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks; Sun., Sep. 27 (3:25 p.m., CBS)
Week 4: vs. Oakland Raiders; Sun., Oct. 4 (noon, CBS)
Week 5: at Kansas Chiefs; Sun., Oct. 11 (noon, FOX)
Week 6: at Detroit Lions; Sun., Oct. 18 (noon, FOX)
Week 7: OFF
Week 8: vs. Minnesota Vikings; Sun., Nov. 1 (noon, FOX)
Week 9: at San Diego Chargers; Mon., Nov. 9 (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Week 10: at St. Louis Rams; Sun., Nov. 15 (noon, FOX)
Week 11: vs. Denver Broncos -- Sun., Nov. 22 (noon, CBS)
Week 12: at Green Bay Packers; Thanksgiving, Nov. 26 (7:30 p.m., NBC)
Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers; Sun., Dec. 6 (noon, FOX)
Week 14: vs. Washington Redskins; Sun., Dec. 13 (noon, FOX)
Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings -- Sun., Dec. 20 (noon, FOX)
Week 16: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Sun., Dec. 27 (noon, FOX)
Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions; Sun., Jan. 3 (noon, FOX)
*-Flexible scheduling is in effect for Sunday games from Weeks 5 through 17
