The WCG crew kicked off a five-part Chicago Bears 2026 schedule roundtable yesterday, so here’s topic number two.
What is the hardest stretch of games on the Bears’ 2026 schedule?
Sam Householder: The division games to finish the season is an easy answer, but it’s still so far down the road we don’t know where anyone is going to be. However, the meat of the schedule is the three-straight primetime games from weeks 7-9 vs. New England, at Seattle and vs. Tampa Bay. Sure, two are at home, but on short
weeks. And two of those teams were in the Super Bowl last year.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: I agree with Sam, the three primetime games in a row. It’s mid-way through the year, so by then we’ll have an idea who the Bears are. But then this stretch will allow the Bears to show a nationally televised audience exactly who they are.
Bryan Orenchuk: Hardest stretch is week 5-9 when we travel to GB and ATL before three consecutive Primetime games against NE, @ SEA and against TB.
Ryan Droste: Week 5-9 is the answer to me. Coming off the Jets game, the Bears go into Lambeau Field in Week 5. Given how last season ended for Green Bay, you know they will be out for revenge. And Micah Parsons will probably be playing in that game. You follow that up by going to Atlanta, a team that always seems to play the Bears well, and then have three prime time games in a row: a Thursday night game in Chicago against New England, followed by a Monday night game at Seattle, and finally a home Sunday night game against Tampa. Then, thankfully, the bye week.
Josh Sunderbruch: The close of the season. The Bills will be a tough out, and then it’s three divisional games, including one match against the Lions, who seem to have Ben Johnson’s number until he proves otherwise.
TJ Starman: Weeks 15 – 18 are easily set to be the most difficult for the Bears. After what is hopefully an easier game in Miami, they’ll travel to Buffalo before ending the season against all 3 divisional rivals. This 4-game stretch could decide the whole season if the Bears haven’t done enough to distance themselves in playoff contention, which is asking a lot with those divisional games lingering.
Gary Baugher Jr.: The last 4 games are a gauntlet, opening with a road game against a perennial AFC powerhouse, then 3 divisional games to close out the season. The (maybe a bit homer) hope is that at least 1 of those games sees us resting starters for the playoffs, but with the schedule overall, this may be a make-or-break stretch.
Sarah DeNicolo: Definitely Weeks 15-18. Luckily, the Bears generally have a good mix of difficult and easier opponents throughout their schedule, but the end of the season is going to be a doozy.
Jeff Berckes: None. Bears are good now. Having Chicago on the schedule is what other teams will start to point to as being the tough part of their schedule.
Now it’s your turn. What’s the toughest stretch of games for the Bears?
