Honestly, if you looked at the Chicago Bears football schedule back in May, you probably thought this season was going to be a disaster. A rookie-contract quarterback in Caleb Williams, a brand new head coach in Ben Johnson, and a gauntlet of a back-half schedule that looked like it was designed by someone who hates the city of Chicago.
But here we are. It is January 18, 2026.
The Bears aren't just relevant; they are hosting an NFC Divisional Playoff game tonight at Soldier Field against the Los Angeles Rams. It’s wild. This team finished the regular season 11–6, grabbed the NFC North crown for the first time in ages, and just bounced the Packers from the Wild Card round last week in a 31–27 thriller. If you’re looking for the 2025-2026 schedule to see how they got here—or you're already looking ahead to the 2026 opponents—you’ve gotta understand the context of these matchups.
The Gauntlet That Defined the 2025 Season
Most experts looked at the 2025 Chicago Bears football schedule and circled the Weeks 13 through 17 stretch as the "death zone." They weren't wrong.
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Chicago had to play the Eagles on Black Friday, then travel to Lambeau, then host Cleveland, then host the Packers again, and then fly out to Santa Clara for a Sunday Night Football clash with the 49ers. That is brutal. Somehow, Ben Johnson kept this locker room together. Winning that Week 16 Saturday night game against Green Bay in overtime ($22-16$) was the turning point. It didn't just give them a win; it broke the psychological hold the Packers had on this franchise.
Looking Back: The 2025 Regular Season Results
It started shaky. People forget that.
- Week 1: Lost to the Vikings at home ($24-27$) on Monday Night Football. The hype felt like it died instantly.
- Week 2: Got absolutely smoked by the Lions ($52-21$). People were calling for jobs.
- Week 3: Found their identity. Beat the Cowboys $31-14$ at Soldier Field. Caleb Williams finally looked like the guy.
- Weeks 4-10: They went on a tear. Wins against the Raiders, Commanders, Saints, and Giants. The only blemish was a road loss to Baltimore in Week 8.
- Week 13 (Black Friday): A massive $24-15$ road win against the Eagles. This was when the national media actually started taking them seriously.
The 2026 Chicago Bears Football Schedule: Who is Next?
Since we are officially in the "new year" portion of the season, the NFL has already locked in the opponents for the 2026 cycle. If you're a season ticket holder or just someone who likes to plan their autumns around beer and disappointment (or hope, lately), here is the deal for next season.
The Bears will play the NFC South and the AFC East in 2026. Because they finished first in the NFC North this year, they also get the "first-place" schedule treatment, which means dates with the Eagles and Jaguars.
2026 Home Opponents
Soldier Field is going to be rocking next year. You've got the usual divisional suspects—Lions, Packers, and Vikings—but the non-division slate is actually pretty spicy.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints are coming up from the South. From the AFC, the New York Jets and New England Patriots will visit Chicago. But the big ones? The Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Getting the Eagles at home is a huge break compared to traveling to the Linc.
2026 Road Trips
Pack your bags, because the away schedule is a mix of "easy flight" and "bucket list stadium."
- Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota: The standard NFC North tour.
- Buffalo Bills: Expect snow. It's a rite of passage.
- Miami Dolphins: The perfect excuse for a November getaway.
- Atlanta Falcons: Checking out the big stadium in Georgia.
- Carolina Panthers: Usually a "pro-Bears" crowd in Charlotte.
- Seattle Seahawks: This is the "reward" for winning the division—a flight to the loudest stadium in the league.
Why the Schedule Strategy Changed
The NFL did something weird with the Bears this year. They gave them games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. It was the first time in team history that happened.
Why? Because Caleb Williams is a superstar.
Even if his completion percentage hovered around $58%$ for a chunk of the year, his "explosive play" rate was top-tier. The Bears finished second in the league in plays over 20 yards. That’s why the league keeps flexed them into primetime. You've got a defense led by Kevin Byard (who had 7 interceptions!) and Montez Sweat (10 sacks) that keeps games close enough for Caleb to do something crazy in the fourth quarter.
What You Should Do Now
If you're following the Chicago Bears football schedule right now, you aren't looking at September. You're looking at tonight.
- Watch the Divisional Round: Bears vs. Rams, Sunday Night, NBC.
- Check the Weather: It’s roughly 15 degrees at Soldier Field right now. The wind off the lake is going to be a massive factor for Matthew Stafford, who is used to that 79-degree L.A. weather.
- Betting Note: The Rams are 4.5-point favorites, but the Bears are 10-7 against the spread this year. They thrive as underdogs.
- Draft Watch: Keep an eye on the 2026 NFL Draft order. Even though the Bears are in the playoffs, Ryan Poles is always looking for O-line depth.
The 2025 season was a wild ride that nobody saw coming after that 0-2 start. Whether they win tonight or not, the "Same Old Bears" narrative is basically dead. Now, we just wait to see if they can finish the job and get to the NFC Championship.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the official NFL schedule release in May 2026 for exact dates and times for the matchups listed above. If you're planning to attend the away game in Seattle or Miami, book your flights early, as those are high-demand "takeover" games for Bears fans. For tonight, ensure you have the Peacock app or NBC ready by 5:30 PM CST to catch the kickoff against the Rams.