The NFL has released its 2023 schedule, and we’ve learned exactly when the Chicago Bears will face their 2023 opponents. Chicago will open the season against the Green Bay Packers, which will feature Justin Fields vs. Jordan Love at Soldier Field.
In addition to facing their NFC North opponents twice, the Bears will face the AFC West and NFC South, which includes home games against the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, as well as away games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints.
With Chicago finishing fourth in the NFC North, they’ll also face the same-place finisher in the NFC East and NFC West. With that additional 17th game, they’ll face the AFC North same-place finisher, Cleveland Browns, on the road.
Below are my early game-by-game predictions for the 2023 season:
Week 1: Bears vs. Packers
The Bears will open the season against the Packers, where Justin Fields and Jordan Love will headline this matchup at Soldier Field. It’ll be the first matchup against an Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay squad, which gives Chicago an opportunity to break an eight-game losing streak against the Packers. With Love making his first start as the Packers’ official starter, the Bears could take advantage of his inexperience and kick off the 2023 season with a statement.
Prediction: WIN
Week 2: Bears at Buccaneers
The Bears are playing the Buccaneers for the eighth time in the last nine years. With Tom Brady retired, the Buccaneers are a team rebuilding. While Mike Evans and Chris Godwin remain in place, Baker Mayfield is a steep downgrade from Brady. Still, this should be a game that Chicago should win.
Prediction: WIN
Week 3: Bears at Chiefs
Justin Fields vs. Patrick Mahomes. Luke Getsy vs. Matt Nagy. This matchup has all of the storylines as the Chiefs host the Bears at Arrowhead. Kansas City is easily the toughest game on Chicago’s schedule, but we saw how the Bears held their own against some of the best last season against the Eagles and Bills. Perhaps Chicago could shock the NFL world. But it’s nearly impossible to bet against Mahomes.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 4: Bears vs. Broncos
Chicago will host a Denver team looking to rebound after a brutal 5-12 season. With Sean Payton replacing Nathaniel Hackett, the Broncos are primed for a bounce-back season with Russell Wilson at the helm. Still, this is a game that the Bears can certainly win. And, luckily, it’s on their home turf rather than extensive elevation.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 5: Bears at Commanders (Thursday Night Football)
For the second consecutive season, the Bears will face the Commanders on Thursday Night Football. Last year’s brutal 12-7 loss to Washington was the catalyst in jumpstarting Chicago’s offense — and Justin Fields’ electric rushing ability. Sam Howell will be the Commanders’ starting quarterback, which makes this game more winnable, and Fields should guide this offense to victory in a winnable prime-time matchup.
Prediction: WIN
Week 6: Bears vs. Vikings
For the first time in awhile, the Bears and Vikings won’t wrap the season against each other. Chicago will host Minnesota after their Thursday night game, giving the Bears plenty of rest before facing last season’s division champs. With an improved roster, Chicago’s best chance of beating the Vikings is at home. They’ll have to contend with Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. But the hope is this Bears offense can go toe-to-toe with Minnesota.
Prediction: WIN
Week 7: Bears vs. Raiders
The Bears will host the Raiders in a game featuring new Vegas quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Jaylon Johnson will get to match up against Davante Adams – now a Raider – just like the good ol’ days in Green Bay. The Bears defeated Las Vegas back in 2021 – with Derek Carr at the helm – and they’ll be looking to pull out a win in a tough AFC West division.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 8: Bears at Chargers (Sunday Night Football)
It’s a battle of the Justins when Justin Herbert and the Chargers host Justin Fields and the Bears on Sunday Night Football. The Chargers are an ascending team looking to make an impact in the AFC West, and they’ll present a tough challenge for Chicago. This could be a shootout between Fields and Herbert, which should make for an entertaining matchup. But the edge goes to the home team.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 9: Bears at Saints
The Bears head to the Big Easy to face a Saints team boasting a new quarterback in Derek Carr, who’s looking to get New Orleans back on track in the NFC South. Chicago will have to contend with returning wideout Michael Thomas, who will be Carr’s top target. Still, in a weak NFC South, the Bears have a good chance to leave New Orleans with a win.
Prediction: WIN
Week 10: Bears vs. Panthers (Thursday Night Football)
The Bears will host the Panthers on Thursday Night Football in Week 10, and there are plenty of reasons why. Not only is it a potential DJ Moore revenge game, but it’ll feature Justin Fields vs. Bryce Young, who Chicago chose to pass on after they traded the No. 1 pick to Carolina. The Bears can help their second first-round pick in 2024 (the one they got from the Panthers) with a victory over Carolina at Soldier Field.
Prediction: WIN
Week 11: Bears at Lions
The Lions are the team to beat in the NFC North this season, and it should be an entertaining one if the first meeting last season was any indication. Justin Fields was electric against Detroit – when healthy – last season. We’ll see if he can replicate his success when facing a Lions team trending upward. It’s always hard to win on the road, but, assuming they lose, this shouldn’t be as brutal as last season’s disaster.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 12: Bears at Vikings (Monday Night Football)
As a follow up to Thanksgiving, the Vikings will host the Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 12. In the second meeting between the two division rivals, Chicago will face the tough task of defending the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in receiver Justin Jefferson. While they stand a better chance of winning at home, Kirk Cousins should get a rare prime-time win.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 13: BYE WEEK
Week 14: Bears vs. Lions
The Lions are the early NFC North favorites heading into 2023, and the Bears will face a test against an impressive offense and upgraded defense. Last season, Chicago lost by a missed extra point at home and were blown out on the row amid a rash of injuries. It’s always hard to predict division games, but it’s hard to believe the Bears get swept two years in a row by Detroit. And Chicago’s best chance of winning comes at home.
Prediction: WIN
Week 15: Bears at Browns
The Bears will travel to Cleveland to face the Browns during a chilly winter in Week 15. The matchup will feature Justin Fields vs. Deshaun Watson, who will be in his first full season with Cleveland. The last time Fields faced the Browns, he was sacked nine times — four of those from Myles Garrett. While Fields should be better protected this time around, this game could prove difficult down the stretch.
Prediction: LOSS
Week 16: Bears vs. Cardinals
The Bears will host the Cardinals on Christmas Eve in a matchup that will feature Justin Fields vs. Kyler Murray. Murray is recovering from a torn ACL, which will require him to miss the beginning of the season. Both teams have a lot to prove heading into 2023, especially as many have them pegged to struggle for another season.
Prediction: WIN
Week 17: Bears vs. Falcons
After losing a close one to the Falcons last season, the Bears will be looking for revenge when they host Atlanta at Soldier Field. Chicago will likely face second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder, but they’ll also have to contend with rookie running back Bijan Robinson, who many have pegged to be Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Bears run defense will face a huge test.
Prediction: WIN
Week 18: Bears at Packers
This game could very well have playoff implications down the line, which could make it very interesting indeed. It’s always difficult to beat the Packers, but especially at Lambeau Field. While Love is no Rodgers, this should be a close game that Green Bay is able to pull out at home. But until the Bears prove they can beat the Packers, there’s no way I can predict them sweeping Green Bay in a season.
Prediction: LOSS
Final record: 9-8
Given we’re still several months from the start of the season, there’s no reason not to be a little optimistic at this point. For the Bears, finishing 9-8 would certainly be respectable after finishing with the worst record in the league in 2022. Overall, Chicago has a favorable schedule. Not that it’s worth much given the turnover in the league. Aside from some juggernauts, including the Chiefs and Chargers, there are plenty of winnable games on this schedule for the Bears. We’ll see how things shake out with a Chicago team with plenty to prove heading into 2023.
