With the NFL officially confirming the 2026 schedule release for Thursday, May 14 at 8:00 PM ET, fans of the Chicago Bears are bracing for the road ahead. While specific dates and kickoff times are pending, the Chicago Bears strength of schedule (SOS) is already shaping the early storylines for the season.
Based on the latest Sharp Football Analysis using Vegas projected win totals, the Chicago Bears enter the 2026 season with the #27 hardest schedule in the NFL. That places them in the Extremely Difficult difficulty tier, a slate stacked with playoff contenders and a notable cross-conference test.
Why the Chicago Bears Schedule is Ranked #27
Unlike traditional SOS rankings that rely on last year’s win-loss records, our 2026 analysis uses Vegas win totals to account for roster changes, draft hauls, and coaching shifts under head coach Ben Johnson. For a closer look at the wider picture, see our 2026 NFL Strength of Schedule master rankings.
For the Chicago Bears, the #27 ranking is driven by:
- The Division Factor: Facing the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings twice each remains one of the more demanding division slates in football.
- The Positional Draw: The Chicago Bears draw the entire NFC South (New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home; Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers on the road) and the entire AFC East, two of the deeper divisions in their rotation.
- The 17th Game: A home date with the Jacksonville Jaguars adds significant weight to the strength of the schedule, sending Chicago Bears into a tough home test matchup.
Chicago Bears 2026 Home and Away Opponents
You can find the Chicago Bears printable 2026-27 schedule in PDF here: Chicago Bears 2026 Schedule.
| Home (Soldier Field) | Away (Road Trip) |
| Detroit Lions | Detroit Lions |
| Green Bay Packers | Green Bay Packers |
| Minnesota Vikings | Minnesota Vikings |
| New Orleans Saints | Atlanta Falcons |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Carolina Panthers |
| New England Patriots | Buffalo Bills |
| New York Jets | Miami Dolphins |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Seattle Seahawks |
| Jacksonville Jaguars (17th game) | – |
Key Matchups to Watch in 2026
- The Rivalry Game: A division date with the Green Bay Packers will be an important test for NFC North seeding and a measuring stick for Chicago Bears’s 2026 plans.
- The Cross-Conference Test: The Buffalo Bills matchup is one of the more difficult tests on the 2026 slate, with national attention guaranteed.
Chicago Bears Strength of Schedule FAQ
How hard is the Chicago Bears 2026 schedule? The Chicago Bears have the #27 hardest schedule in the NFL. That falls in the Extremely Difficult tier compared to the rest of the league, with the difficulty driven primarily by the NFC South and AFC East draws.
When is the Chicago Bears 2026 schedule released? The full week-by-week schedule will be released by the NFL on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET. We will update this page with dates, times, and TV broadcasts as soon as the league publishes them.
Who is the Chicago Bears 17th game in 2026? The Chicago Bears are scheduled to face the Jacksonville Jaguars at home as their rotating 17th game opponent for the 2026 season.
DOWNLOAD 2026 CHICAGO BEARS SCHEDULE TRACKER (PDF)
Be ready for the May 14 release. Download our low-ink printable PDF for the Chicago Bears to track every date, kickoff time, and TV broadcast as they are announced. For full team news and the official future opponents page, see the Chicago Bears official schedule.
NFL Resources
For more 2026 NFL schedule and strength of schedule context, see these companion guides on Sports Brackets:
- 2026 NFL Strength of Schedule: Complete 1-32 Rankings – the master ranking that places the Chicago Bears at #27.
- Future NFL Schedules hub – rolling future-season opponent lists for every team.
- 2026 NFL Schedule Printable and TV Lineups – the master 2026 NFL schedule article with team-by-team printable downloads.
- 2026 NFL Schedule Grid Printable – one-page printable grid of the 2026 NFL season at a glance.
