Chicago Bears 2023 schedule: Here’s who they’ll play — and our predictions for each game

The 2023 Chicago Bears schedule is set.

Season opener against the rival Green Bay Packers. Season finale? Against the Packers. Sandwiched in between are 15 games that will determine the direction and momentum of the team’s resurgence effort. The Bears will play a pair of Thursday night games for the first time — in Weeks 5 and 10 — and have four prime-time games in all.

Here’s how our trio of Bears reporters sees the season playing out.

Week 1: Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

Sunday, Sept. 10, 3:25 p.m., Fox-32

Great news! Sources have confirmed to the Tribune that Jordan Love doesn’t own anything in or around downtown Chicago. The law of averages also suggests the Packers’ new QB1 couldn’t possibly emerge as one of the league’s top stars for the next decade or longer. So maybe Bears fans can breathe a sigh of relief. And perhaps this rivalry will become legitimately competitive again.

Tribune picks

• Brad Biggs: Packers
• Colleen Kane: Bears
• Dan Wiederer: Bears

Week 2: Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sunday, Sept. 17, noon, Fox-32

The Bears’ last trip to Raymond James Stadium was a horror show, a 38-3 loss during the team’s 2021 nosedive. But these aren’t Tom Brady’s Bucs. They’re Baker Mayfield’s squad now with Tampa, Fla., becoming the fourth stop for Mayfield in the last two years. Maybe those red-zone pirate-ship cannons will be a little quieter this trip. Maybe this will be an early-season opportunity to build momentum.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Buccaneers

Week 3: Bears at Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday, Sept. 24, 3:25 p.m., CBS-2

According to esteemed NFL journalist Peter King, the Chiefs formally requested their game against the Bears be played at Arrowhead Stadium rather than in Frankfurt, Germany, as part of the league’s international series. Per usual, hordes of Bears fans are expected to make their presence felt in Kansas City, Mo., on the third weekend of the season. The bigger question, though, is how much two-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes will make his presence felt against a Bears defense that finished last season ranked last in sacks and yards allowed per pass play.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Chiefs
• Kane: Chiefs
• Wiederer: Chiefs

Week 4: Bears vs. Denver Broncos

Sunday, Oct. 1, noon, CBS-2

Does Sean Payton have the secret sauce to resurrect Russell Wilson? That’s at the center of an expensive experiment in Denver where the Broncos stumbled to 12 losses last season and fired first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett after only 15 games. Now a Super Bowl-winning offensive mastermind teams with a Super Bowl-winning quarterback on a mission to get the Broncos back into the playoffs for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Broncos
• Wiederer: Broncos

Week 5: Bears at Washington Commanders

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Bears quarterback Justin Fields is shoved out of bounds by Commanders linebacker Cole Holcomb in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Thursday, Oct. 5, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime

The Commanders’ nasty defensive front led by Daron Payne, Chase Young, Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat made life difficult for Justin Fields and the Bears offense in a Week 6 Thursday night game last season. Washington stole a 12-7 victory when a potential game-winning drive for the Bears ended 8 inches shy of the goal line with 30 seconds left. Could this be payback time?

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 6: Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings

Sunday, Oct. 15, noon, Fox-32

Who could ever forget that Week 18 clash between the Bears and Vikings in January at Soldier Field, a 29-13 Vikings win that ended with Tim Boyle and Nick Mullens as the quarterbacks on the field? Actually, it’s quite possible fans of both teams wouldn’t be able to recall three plays from that game. Here’s hoping this year’s reunion downtown has more meaning and much more entertainment value.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Vikings
• Kane: Vikings
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 7: Bears vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Sunday, Oct. 22, noon, Fox-32

The Raiders invested the No. 7 pick on Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson, an imposing pass rusher whose strength and speed is complemented by his 86-inch wingspan. The Raiders also made several notable offseason additions on offense, signing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and receiver Jakobi Meyers while drafting Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in Round 2.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Raiders
• Wiederer: Raiders

Week 8: Bears at Los Angeles Chargers

Sunday, Oct. 29, 7:25 p.m., NBC-5

In his first three seasons, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown for 14,089 yards and 94 touchdowns. Both totals would rank third in Bears history. This also will be a reunion game with Khalil Mack, though most of Mack’s Bears teammates are long gone from the roster.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Chargers
• Kane: Chargers
• Wiederer: Chargers

Week 9: Bears at New Orleans Saints

Sunday, Nov. 5, noon, CBS-2

Bayou voodoo? The signature victory of the Bears’ 103-season history came at the Louisiana Superdome, a 46-10 pasting of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. But the Bears haven’t won in that building since October 1991, when Mike Ditka was still their coach and Jim Harbaugh was quarterback. The Bears’ last visit to New Orleans ended with a playoff exit in a 21-9 wild-card-round loss in January 2021 in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score would suggest.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Saints
• Kane: Saints
• Wiederer: Saints

Week 10: Bears vs. Carolina Panthers

Thursday, Nov. 9, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime

After trading receiver DJ Moore and three draft picks to the Bears in March, the Panthers used the No. 1 pick from that landmark deal to draft Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. League talent evaluators are curious to see how Young holds up in the NFL with his 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame. But truth be told, that might be the only significant deficiency anyone in the league could find during the predraft process as Young turned heads with his high-level composure, accuracy, feel for the game and playmaking ability. An early-November battle against Justin Fields should be fun.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 11: Bears at Detroit Lions

Sunday, Nov. 19, noon, Fox-32

The Bears’ bid to retain running back David Montgomery stalled in March when Montgomery instead chose to sign a three-year, $18 million contract with the Lions. Bears GM Ryan Poles was disappointed but wished Montgomery well. The first reunion comes at Ford Field. “He definitely is going to run with a chip on his shoulder,” Poles said.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Lions
• Kane: Lions
• Wiederer: Lions

Week 12: Bears at Vikings

Monday, Nov. 27, 7:15 p.m., ESPN

Many have scoffed at the path the Vikings took to 13 wins and a division title last season, going 11-0 in games decided by eight points or fewer and finishing with a minus-3 point differential. Kevin O’Connell’s group couldn’t possibly repeat that magical run, could it? Well, with star receiver Justin Jefferson, anything seems possible. Included in Jefferson’s 1,800-yard season was a seven-catch, 91-yard first-quarter greeting for the Bears in the teams’ meeting at U.S. Bank Stadium in October.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Vikings
• Wiederer: Vikings

Week 13: Bye week

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A Chicago Bears fan takes his seat early before a game at Soldier Field on Jan. 8, 2023. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

No game this week, so catch up on the latest Bears headlines out of Arlington Heights.

Week 14: Bears vs. Lions

Sunday, Dec. 10, noon, Fox-32

Dan Campbell’s group won eight of their final 10 games last season and are suddenly the odds-on favorite to, well, take the North. The Lions also assembled an eight-man draft class that included first-round picks Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell as well as Day 2 talents Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch, Hendon Hooker and Brodric Martin.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Lions
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Lions

Week 15: Bears at Cleveland Browns

TBA

For those who enjoy adding pencil markings to the Justin Fields quarterback growth chart, this will be an intriguing return to the site of Fields’ first NFL start. That September day in 2021 was one to forget with Fields left to take a beating to the tune of nine sacks as the Bears totaled only 1 net passing yard in a 26-6 loss. So just how far has the franchise quarterback come since?

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Browns
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 16: Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals

Sunday, Dec. 24, 3:25 p.m., Fox-32

The Cardinals are one of three teams on the Bears’ schedule with a new coach. (The Broncos and Panthers are the others.) Matt Eberflus should have plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals boss Jonathan Gannon, who was his defensive backs coach with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-2020.

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Cardinals

Week 17: Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons

Sunday, Dec. 31, noon, Fox-32

Is a running back ever worthy of being selected in the top 10 in the modern NFL? That was an animated debate for the two months leading up to the draft. The Falcons sure thought so, grabbing Texas back Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 selection. Robinson is a do-it-all weapon who should quickly become the engine of the Falcons offense. Will the Bears defense be sturdy enough up front to slow Robinson?

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Bears
• Kane: Bears
• Wiederer: Bears

Week 18: Bears at Packers

Saturday or Sunday, Jan. 6 or 7, TBA

It can’t be, can it? A trip into Lambeau Field? Without tormentor Aaron Rodgers waiting at the gate? As the four-time MVP and eight-time NFC North champ tends to his new job with the New York Jets, the Bears should feel eager to start exacting payback on their chief rivals. The Packers beat the Bears in Green Bay 13 times in 15 tries with Rodgers as their starter with an average margin of defeat of 16 points. How much will the 2023 season finale mean to either team?

Tribune picks

• Biggs: Packers
• Kane: Packers
• Wiederer: Bears

Season predictions

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Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) blocks Packers linebacker Justin Hollins in the fourth quarter on Sept. 10, 2023, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Brad Biggs: 8-9

It’s only appropriate the Bears get the first shot at the Packers in the post-Aaron Rodgers era. After all, the future Hall of Famer had more success against them than any other franchise.

With what general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus hope is a much different defense, the Bears will get to see how their retooled front seven looks against new Packers quarterback Jordan Love. It’s the first of what looks like at least nine games with teams using a new starting quarterback or with a depth chart in flux.

The Bears travel to Tampa, Fla., in Week 2, where following Tom Brady’s retirement it looks like Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask. The Thursday game in Week 5 at Washington potentially pits the Bears against Sam Howell, who has one career start. The Bears could see Jimmy Garoppolo (Raiders) and Derek Carr (Saints) in Weeks 8 and 9 with new teams, and No. 1 pick Bryce Young and the Panthers visit Soldier Field in Week 10.

Who knows if Kyler Murray will be back from a torn ACL for the Cardinals in time for Week 16. Could the Cardinals be in the mix for the No. 1 pick at that point? The following week, will Desmond Ridder be starting for the Falcons?

There’s generally a wide gap between the haves and have nots with quarterbacks, and the Bears have figured that out by trial and a lot of error. Maybe they have their guy in Justin Fields. Perhaps this is the schedule and the season in which he truly rises. It helps that the Bears face teams in flux at the position — no doubt about that.

Colleen Kane: 8-9

A Bears-Packers season opener as Green Bay’s first game after Aaron Rodgers? The NFL couldn’t resist. I have to think it will play in the Bears’ favor to get Jordan Love right off the bat at Soldier Field, setting the Bears up to finally break the Packers’ eight-game winning streak in the rivalry. And Week 2 against the Buccaneers — post-Tom Brady — doesn’t seem that bad either.

The Panthers game in November has the potential to come with a whole lot of hype, depending on how the seasons of Justin Fields and Bryce Young are playing out. The Bears passed on an opportunity to draft Young with the No. 1 pick because they believed in Fields’ development. By Week 10, the Bears should hope to have a good idea of how that decision is playing out, on Fields’ end at least.

The meat of the schedule appears to come from Weeks 3-9. Those Week 8 and 9 games at the Chargers and Saints are the start of a stretch of four road games in five weeks. If the Bears can get through the second Vikings game after Thanksgiving weekend in the .500 range, there could be a chance for a December push against the Lions, Browns, Cardinals and Falcons.

As for that Week 18 trip to Lambeau Field? It’s too soon to tell if that will have playoff implications for either team.

Dan Wiederer: 7-10

The schedule release is a date-circling event for beat writers. Warm-weather escape weekends? The Bears will enjoy trips this fall to Tampa, Fla., Los Angeles and New Orleans. Nice. Holidays? No Thanksgiving game again this season — the Bears will travel to play the Vikings on Monday night following that weekend. They will also be home for Christmas after a midafternoon kickoff on Christmas Eve against the Cardinals before hosting the Falcons for New Year’s Eve.

But what about the matchups that really get the juices going? For those incomparable rushes, give me Sept. 10 at Soldier Field against the Packers. Right out of the gate. Let’s see the new shape of this rivalry in the post-Aaron Rodgers era. Let’s see how much progress Justin Fields has made and how much he can benefit from an upgraded supporting cast. Let’s see how much of an opening Jordan Love gives the Bears to close the gap.

Give me Sept. 24 at Arrowhead Stadium, too, against the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Perfect measuring-stick game right there. Also give me Nov. 9, a Thursday nighter in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers with a potential battle between Fields and No. 1 pick Bryce Young on the lakefront. (Please, please, please don’t give any of us Andy Dalton vs. P.J. Walker for that one.)

The most passionate Bears fans look at the 18-week schedule and see a paved road to playoff contention. A realist can spot the potholes while still seeing plenty of opportunity for a young and growing team to build belief toward a brighter future.

It would surprise many in the league if this Bears team were to finish with a winning record in 2023. But the schedule doesn’t feel particularly imposing, particularly in a changing NFC landscape. So now the Bears get their chance to use it as a springboard.