Bears Blitz

Published by Jake Perper on April 17, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Here’s your 2012-2013 Chicago Bears schedule:

Week 1: Sept. 9, Indianapolis, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 2: Sept. 13, at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network

Week 3: Sept. 23, St. Louis, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 4: Oct. 1, at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Week 5: Oct. 7, at Jacksonville, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 6: BYE

Week 7: Oct. 22, at Detroit, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Week 8: Oct. 28, at Carolina, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 9: Nov. 4, at Tennessee, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 10: Nov. 11, Houston, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Week 11: Nov. 19, at San Francisco, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Week 12: Nov. 25, Minnesota, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 13: Dec. 2, Seattle, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 14: Dec. 9, at Minnesota, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 15: Dec. 16, Green Bay, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 16: Dec 23, at Arizona, 4:15 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 17: Dec 30, at Detroit, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX

What I Think?

Bears opponents in 2012-2013 were a combined 126-130 in 2011, which would make their schedule the 2oth hardest in the league. A year ago they held the 18th hardest schedule in the league.

They start off the season at home for the third-consecutive season. They are 16-3 in home openers since 1984. They then travel Green Bay four days later to take on the Packers on Thursday Night Football.

They play host to the rebuilding Rams the following week, then travel to Dallas and Jacksonville the next two weeks. They then have a much-needed bye during Week 6.

They return home for a two-game stretch to clash with NFC North Detroit and up and coming Carolina in Week 8.

Arguably the hardest stretch of the season is from Week 9 to Week 11. They travel to Tennessee, return home for a nationally televised Sunday Night Football game against AFC South powerhouse Houston and then travel to San Francisco for a Monday Night Football game.

Tennessee will have Chris Johnson back and healthy and will be competitive in the AFC South next season. Houston won the AFC South for the first time in their history and San Francisco won the NFC West and made it to the NFC Championship.

After that tough stretch their next six games look like this: Minnesota, Seattle, at Minnesota, Green Bay, at Arizona, at Detroit.

They split the remaining six games of their schedule at home and on the road, four of them coming against NFC North opponents.

Final Thoughts

What do you think of the Bears 2012-2013 schedule?

The 2012-2013 season marks the first time since the 2002 season that the Bears will play three contests on Monday Night Football. Under Smith, Chicago is 7-2 on Monday Night Football, 8-8 on Sunday Night Football and 2-2 on Thursday Night Football.

Also, this is the first time since 1940, that the Bears will play their first two regular-season games within five days of each other.

It won’t be easy for the Bears, who will be featured in five games nationally (Week 2 at Green Bay on Thursday Night Football on NFL Network; Week 4 at Dallas; Week 7 vs. Detroit on Monday Night Football on ESPN; Week 10 vs. Houston on Sunday Night Football on NBC; and Week 11 at San Francisco on Monday Night Football on ESPN).

With the improvements the Bears made this offseason they will certainly be viewed as one of the better teams.

WR Brandon Marshall and RB Michael Bush certainly improve the Bears offense tremendously. After the draft is completed, we’ll be able to get a better feel for this team and how far they can actually go next season.

It’s exciting news that the schedule has been released and I’m sure lots of NFL fans are ready for the season to begin. However, it gives analysts lots of time to evaluate these schedules.

Many of these teams could look different come July or August, so right now is way too premature to make any game predictions.

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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