Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Chicago Bears 2011 Schedule: A Full Evaluation

Here’s your 2011-2012 Chicago Bears schedule:

Week 1: Sept. 11, Atlanta , 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 2: Sept. 18, at New Orleans, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 3: Sept. 25, Green Bay, 4:15 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 4: Oct. 2, Carolina, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 5: Oct .10 at Detroit, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Week 6: Oct. 16 Minnesota, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Week 7: Oct. 23 vs. Tampa Bay at London, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 8 Bye

Week 9: Nov. 7 at Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Week 10: Nov. 13 Detroit, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 11: Nov. 20 San Diego, 4:15 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 12: Nov. 27 at Oakland, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 13: Dec. 4 Kansas City, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 14: Dec. 11 at Denver, 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 15: Dec. 18 Seattle, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

Week 16: Dec. 25 at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Week 17: Jan. 1 at Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

 

What I Think:

Bears opponents in 2011-2012 were a combined 128-128 in 2010, which would make their schedule the 18th hardest in the league. They play their first three games against last year’s No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs (Falcons) and the last two Super Bowl champions (Saints and Packers).

That is certainly a tough start to the season for the Bears. Luckily two of the three games are at Soldier Field.

The Bears are a team that has started the season of fast the last couple of seasons, but with three tough games in a row, their record could be any ones guess heading into week four against Carolina.

After the Bears host Carolina, they will travel to face Detroit on Monday Night Football, return home to face Minnesota on Sunday Night Football and then head to London to play Tampa Bay.

However, the league announced that if an agreement on a new CBA is not reached by Aug. 1, the game in London will be moved to Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium.

Week eight the Bears will get a much needed bye week. They return to action against Michael Vick and the Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday Night Football.

After that game the Bears host NFC North rival Detroit. Then they play four straight games against AFC West teams. Home against San Diego, on the road against Oakland, home against Kansas City and on the road against Denver.

Those four games won’t be easy for the Bears, the AFC usually fares well against NFC teams.

The Week 14 matchup in Denver will certainly be an interesting one. It is going to be fascinating to see what reaction Jay Cutler gets from Denver Broncos fans. The last time Cutler played in Denver was in the 2009 preseason and that was the year the Bears acquired Cutler from Denver.

The Bears then welcome Seattle to Soldier Field, who they manhandled last season in the NFC Divisional game.

Week 16 the Bears travel to Green Bay to take on the Super Bowl champs on Christmas night on Sunday Night Football.

This game will be interesting. If the Bears can get through the tough part of their schedule, the first three weeks (Atlanta, New Orleans and Green Bay) and the Week 11-14 stretch against the NFC West, then this Christmas night matchup could decide the NFC North.

The Bears finish up the season on New Year's Day against Minnesota.

Final Thoughts

The Bears will play on New Year’s Day for just the third time. The Bears will play on Christmas Day for only the second time in team history.

The Bears will open back-to-back campaigns at home for the first time since 1998-99. The Bears are 15-3 in season openers at home since 1984.

What do you think of the Bears 2011-2012 schedule?

It sure seems like the NFL wants a season because they sure have some beautiful match-ups in the first three weeks of the season.

It is way to early to even predict any of these games, but hopefully after the draft we will have a better feeling for this 2011-2012 Bears roster.

For more news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker or check out Jake’s site Bearsbacker.com.

Kate Walsh Autumn Reeser Camilla Belle Blu Cantrell Jaime King

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