The 2024 NFL season is officially in the books, and as we shift gears into the 2025 offseason, the Chicago Bears find themselves at a crucial crossroads. With a fresh new head coach in Ben Johnson, the Bears are looking to reshape their roster and solidify their foundation for the upcoming season. While there are many questions left unanswered, one thing we do know is exactly who Chicago will be playing when the 2025 campaign kicks off.
A Tough Road Ahead: The Bears' 2025 Opponents
Chicago is gearing up for a challenging schedule in the 2025 season. Not only do they have their usual divisional battles against the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings (each team twice), but they’ll also be squaring off against teams from the NFC East and AFC North. These matchups include home games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, as well as tough road contests versus the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition to these matchups, the Bears' fourth-place finish in the NFC North means they will also take on the same-place finishers from the NFC South and NFC West. Plus, thanks to the 17th game rule, they will also face the fourth-place team from the AFC West on the road.
Breaking Down the Schedule: Who’s Coming to Soldier Field?
The Bears will host some big-name teams at home in 2025. Their opponents include:
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Detroit Lions*
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Green Bay Packers*
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Minnesota Vikings*
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Dallas Cowboys
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New York Giants
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Cleveland Browns
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Pittsburgh Steelers*
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New Orleans Saints
(*Denotes teams that made the playoffs in the 2024 season.)
The Bears Hit the Road: Tough Away Games Ahead
On the road, things don’t get any easier. The Bears will travel to face:
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Baltimore Ravens*
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Cincinnati Bengals*
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Detroit Lions*
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Green Bay Packers*
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Minnesota Vikings*
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Philadelphia Eagles*
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Washington Commanders*
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San Francisco 49ers
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Las Vegas Raiders
(*Denotes teams that made the playoffs in the 2024 season.)
Initial Analysis: A Gauntlet of a Schedule
Looking at this lineup of opponents, it’s clear that the Bears have their work cut out for them. They’ll be competing in what many consider the toughest division in football, facing off against the Lions, Vikings, and Packers a total of six times. But that’s just the beginning.
The Bears will also have to navigate through the AFC North, which is home to some of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks, including Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), both of whom were MVP finalists last season. That’s not all—Chicago will also be facing an NFC East that boasts some of the most explosive offenses in the game, including Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles. They’ll also have a rematch with the Washington Commanders, who, led by Jayden Daniels, emerged as one of the NFC’s top teams last season.
The Silver Lining: Opportunities for Success
Despite the brutal slate, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Bears. The 2025 schedule does offer a few matchups that could work in their favor. They’ll go up against several teams that finished in the bottom 10 of the league in 2024, including the Raiders, Giants, Browns, and Saints. These games could provide Chicago with some much-needed opportunities to stack up wins and build momentum throughout the season.
Another advantage? The Bears’ defense has steadily improved, and with the right offseason acquisitions, they could have the pieces in place to keep games competitive against some of the league’s elite offenses. If Ben Johnson can bring out the best in this roster, the Bears could surprise a lot of people in 2025.
The Bottom Line
The road to success in the NFL is never easy, and the Bears are certainly facing one of the tougher schedules in 2025. With a new head coach at the helm and a critical offseason ahead, Chicago has the potential to take a big step forward—if they make the right moves. The NFC North is stacked, and the competition is fierce, but if the Bears can develop a strong identity on both sides of the ball, they’ll have a fighting chance to make some noise this season.
Bears fans, buckle up—it’s going to be an exciting ride!
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