The Chicago Bears will be looking to rebound following a disappointing 2019 season that featured significant regression just one year removed from a 12-4 season.
It’s safe to say not many are confident in the Bears heading into 2020, but surprisingly the NFL believes the Bears are still must-see television, as they’ve handed them four prime-time games this year.
Unlike last season when the Bears didn’t play a noon game until Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers — they had two prime time games, two games at 3:25 p.m. CT and an international game in London — Chicago will start the 2020 season with four straight noon games.
The Bears begin their prime-time slate in Week 5, where they’ll play four prime-time games in eight weeks. Those matchups include home games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings, as well as road games against the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers.
Let’s rank the Bears’ best prime-time games of 2020.
4. Bears vs. Buccaneers
Week 5 | Oct. 8 | Thursday Night Football
The Bears will open their prime-time slate in Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field. The last time Chicago faced Tampa Bay, the Bears routed the Bucs 48-10 behind quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s six-touchdown performance. Considering Chicago’s favorable schedule in the first half of their 2020 season, this is a game that could be an early statement game.
But these aren’t the Buccaneers of years’ past. Tampa Bay made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason with the free-agent signing of quarterback Tom Brady, who instantly makes the Bucs better. The last time Chicago faced Brady, he put up three touchdowns en route to a Patriots’ 38-31 win over the Bears at Soldier Field.
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
3. Bears at Rams
Week 7 | Oct. 26 | Monday Night Football
There’s something about a good defensive matchup that has made these Bears-Rams games appealing. The Bears and Rams will meet in prime time for the third straight season, this meeting coming in Week 7 on Monday Night Football.
Both the Bears and Rams missed the playoffs last season after being two of the top teams in the NFC in 2018, and they’ll both be looking to rebound in 2020. Chicago and Los Angeles have split their meetings over the last two seasons — with the Bears’ last win over the Rams coming in 2018. We’ll see if Chicago can come up big in prime time on the road in late October.
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
2. Bears vs. Vikings
Week 10 | Nov. 16 | Monday Night Football
There’s something about divisional games that heighten the stakes. Chicago has managed to handle the NFC North well — minus the Packers — since Matt Nagy’s arrival two seasons ago. The Bears have been perfect against the Vikings over the last two years, including a prime time showdown at Soldier Field in 2018.
If the Bears want to have a chance at getting back to the top of the NFC North, they’re going to have to take care of business. Especially during a stretch that includes seven of their final nine games against playoff teams from 2019 — the Vikings accounting for two of those. The Bears defense has risen to the occasion in this pivotal divisional games, and that’s exactly what Chicago needs to notch an important win heading into the final stretch.
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
1. Bears at Packers
Week 12 | Nov. 29 | Sunday Night Football
While the Bears have taken care of business against NFC North foes the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings over these last two seasons, the one hump they haven’t been able to overcome is the Green Bay Packers. The Bears have beaten the Packers just once in the last two seasons, including some close games that proved to be heartbreakers.
For a Bears team that appears to be in win-now mode, they still need to overcome the one team that has been their kryptonite over the last decade and beyond. And they’ll have a chance to do that at Lambeau Field in late November. While the Bears defense has been able to hold up against the Packers, it’s Chicago’s offense that hasn’t been able to take advantage. We’ll see if that changes in 2020.
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
