After a promising 4-2 start to the 2024 NFL season, the Chicago Bears have had a rough couple of weeks. The Hail Mary miracle pulled off by the Commanders broke their hearts in Week 8, and an ugly loss to the Cardinals the following week now has the team in last place in the NFC North, and things aren’t going to get any easier from here on out.
Chicago Bears Have Toughest Remaining Schedule In NFL
They had a rather soft schedule to kick things off. The Bears lost two in a row after defeating the Titans in Week 1, but were able to get back on their feet with wins over teams like the Panthers and Jaguars. And while it may feel like a .500 record at 4-4 is a hole that is easy enough to climb out of, it is the remaining teams on Chicago’s list of games that make it feel nearly impossible.
Colin Cowherd: “Caleb Williams looks lost and is regressing badly.” #DaBears #Bears pic.twitter.com/WwPrDXv5Tu
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) November 4, 2024
No team in the NFL has a tougher remaining schedule than the Bears. A notable quirk in their schedule made it so the team doesn’t play a single one of its division opponents until Week 11, a division that has turned into one of the league’s most competitive. From November 17th on, Chicago will play 6 of its games against NFC North opponents. The span of games will be book ended by contests against the Packers, and they’ll play against the Lions and Vikings a combined four times in five weeks.
Not only is the remaining strength of schedule the highest in the NFL, but it is so by a wide margin. The teams in 2nd through 5th places on the list are separated by .003 winning percentage points, with the Bears coming in a whopping .065 ahead.
49ers Near The Top Of The List
One of the notable teams near the top of the list is the San Francisco 49ers. The NFC West has been unexpectedly strong in 2024, and Kyle Shanahan’s team is in third place in the division after their bye week. They still have intriguing upcoming matchups against the Lions and Bills which could go a long way in deciding their fate, as they currently have a 39% chance of making the playoffs (according to The Athletic).
When it comes to strength of schedule, the Browns, Cowboys, and Steelers round out the top five.
