Heading into the 2026 season, there was a lot of talk about how the Chicago Bears had one of the toughest schedules of any team in the NFL. Through the first nine weeks of the season, that has proven to be true.
The NFC North is highly competitive and the Bears’ division games are the only ones they have lost. Their best wins are against the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, who both played in the Super Bowl last season. Chicago has also defeated three teams in the NFC South, which is struggling this year.
Their win against the Philadelphia Eagles does not look as good now given their current record. However, when Chicago faced Philadelphia, the Eagles had quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley and wide receivers DeVonta
Smith and Dontayvion Wicks in the lineup while the Bears had Case Keenum at quarterback. That is still an impressive win.
When Chicago comes back from their bye week, it does not get an easier. In fact, the Bears have the most difficult strength of schedule of any team from Week 10 through the remainder of the regular season. Their opponents have a combined winning percentage of .631.
Remaining strength of schedule for the NFC contenders pic.twitter.com/Sb87mJ9enX
— Roundtable Sports (@RoundtableSN) November 11, 2026
Their easiest matchups will be against the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins. However, their remaining division games, along with facing the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills, who lead their respective divisions, is quite difficult.
Really, Chicago’s strength of schedule ranking is a testament to how good the NFC North is. Every team in the division has a difficult strength of schedule for the rest of the season, largely in part because of their division games.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears have the hardest remaining schedule in 2026
