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The NFL finally gave us something to talk about that isn't draft related- The Chicago Bears schedule has been released, and it is a doozy:
| Week | Day/Date | Time | Away | Home | Notes |
| 1 | Sun/Sep 7 | Noon | Buffalo Bills | Chicago Bears | Season Opener - CBS |
| 2 | Sun/Sep 14 | SNF | Chicago Bears | San Francisco 49ers | Open new SF stadium - NBC |
| 3 | Mon/Sep 22 | MNF | Chicago Bears | New York Jets | Gruden likes all of the things. - ESPN |
| 4 | Sun/Sep 28 | Noon | Green Bay Packers | Chicago Bears | Fox |
| 5 | Sun/Oct 5 | Noon | Chicago Bears | Carolina Panthers | Fox |
| 6 | Sun/Oct 12 | Noon | Chicago Bears | Atlanta Falcons | Fox |
| 7 | Sun/Oct 19 | Noon | Miami Dolphins | Chicago Bears | CBS |
| 8 | Sun/Oct 26 | Noon | Chicago Bears | New England Patriots | Fox |
| 9 | BYE | ||||
| 10 | Sun/Nov 9 | SNF | Chicago Bears | Green Bay Packers | NBC |
| 11 | Sun/Nov 16 | Noon | Minnesota Vikings | Chicago Bears | Fox |
| 12 | Sun/Nov 23 | Noon | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Chicago Bears | Fox |
| 13 | Thu/Nov 27 | Noon | Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Thanksgiving |
| 14 | Thu/Dec 4 | TNF | Dallas Cowboys | Chicago Bears | NFLN |
| 15 | Mon/Dec 15 | MNF | New Orleans Saints | Chicago Bears | Gruden likes all of the things. - ESPN |
| 16 | Sun/Dec 21 | Noon | Detroit Lions | Chicago Bears | Fox |
| 17 | Sun/Dec 28 | Noon | Chicago Bears | Minnesota Vikings | Fox |
Lester told us all about the strength of this schedule earlier today. Check out what he had to say about this 15th ranked schedule.
Some early quick hits:
- Early defining games against the 49ers and Packers, not unreasonable to have a good split coming out, and definitely sets the tone for the rest of the season.
- Divisonal backload: Most division games played in week 10 or later
- Weeks 16&17 likely determine the division.
- NFL can now flex games as early as Week 5