Bears Blitz

Published by Jake Perper on April 20, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Here’s your 2010- 2011 Chicago Bears schedule:

Week 1:  vs. Detroit (FOX). Sunday, Sep. 12.

Week 2:  @ Dallas (FOX). Sunday, Sep. 19.

Week 3:  vs. Green Bay (ESPN). Monday, Sep. 27.

Week 4:  @ NY Giants (NBC) Sunday, Oct. 3.

Week 5:  @ Carolina (FOX) Sunday, Oct. 10.

Week 6:  vs. Seattle (FOX) Sunday, Oct. 17.

Week 7: vs. Washington (FOX) Sunday, Oct. 24.

Week 8:  BYE Week

Week 9:  @ Buffalo (FOX) *Game being played in Toronto. Sunday, Nov. 7.

Week 10:  vs. Minnesota (FOX). Sunday, Nov. 14.

Week 11:  @Miami (NFLN). Thursday, Nov. 18.

Week 12:  vs. Philadelphia (FOX). Sunday, Nov 28.

Week 13:  @ Lions (FOX). Sunday, Dec. 5.

Week 14:  vs. New England (CBS). Sunday, Dec. 12.

Week 15:  @ Minnesota (ESPN). Monday, Dec. 20.

Week 16:  vs. NY Jets (CBS). Sunday, Dec. 26.

Week 17:  @ Green Bay (FOX). Sunday, Jan. 2.

What I Think?

The Bears have the 14th hardest schedule in the NFL, according to their opponents records from 2009. They open the season with a home game against the Lions, which is not an automatic win, but is a nice way to start the season.

Then the next five weeks, they play three on the road which include at the Cowboys (week two), at the Giants (week four), and at the Panthers (week five). It’s never easy to play three road games in five weeks, especially two back-to-back.

The Bears play the Packers at home on Monday Night Football during week three and that means they have a short week to prepare for another national televised game against the Giants.

They get three decently easy games when they travel to Carolina to take on the Julius Peppersless Panthers, then back-to-back home games against the Seahawks and the Redskins. Then they get a breather with a bye week.

From week nine to week 17 they cycle from away to home each week. They take on the Buffalo Bills in Toronto for a week nine match-up. Huh? Toronto? Yep that’s right the Bears will play the Toronto Bills. Just kidding, but Toronto is a long trip.

They have a home game vs the Vikes which is never easy. Then they have a short week to prepare for the Dolphins for a Thursday night match-up in Miami.

Home against the Donovan McNabbless Eagles, then on the road to face the Lions, then a huge test against the New England Patriots in week 14.

The last four weeks maybe the hardest part of the Bears schedule. They take on the Patriots at home, travel to the dome in Minnesota for a MNF game, then at home against the talented Jets and they end the season on the road against the Packers.

Hopefully the Bears do well before the four game stretch at the end of the season hits. Those games are all huge tests for this Bears team.

The Bears have four national televised games this season: Week three vs. the Pack, Week four at the Giants, week 11 at Brandon Marshall and the Dolphins and at the Vikings in week 15.

Those are very good games to put on national television, however I can’t agree with ESPN’s decision to put the Bears-Vikings game on national television during week 15. Week 15 should have been Vikings @ Bears, not Bears @ Vikings. The weather will not be a factor and that will most likely be an advantage to the Vikings. Plus everyone likes the weather being a game changer.

This is very tough schedule for the Bears, the AFC East and the NFC East aren’t very easy. Plus their own division the NFC North is pretty tough with Green Bay and Minnesota both making the playoffs last season.

The toughest stretches for the Bears next season will be during week two through four (week two @ the Cowboys, week three vs. Packers, week four @ Giants) and week 14-17 (week 14 vs. the Patriots, week 15 @ Minnesota, week 16 vs. Jets, week 17 @ Packers).

Final Thoughts:

The Bears will have to get things together with their draft picks and free agents. The offense under Mike Martz must be learned quickly and Julius Peppers better be the pass rusher the Bears needed or this defense could be struggling again.

If your watching, NFL Network is completely ignoring the fact the Bears are even in the NFC North, they practically handed the division to the Packers and Vikes, even though No. 4 isn’t in Minnesota yet.

Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com.

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