The Chicago Bears Have the Toughest Remaining Schedule

The Schedule Is About to Get Brutal

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 7-2 and coming off arguably their most impressive stretch of football this season. Now comes the hard part.

Following their bye week, Chicago faces one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NFL. The Bears still have two games against the Lions, another matchup with the Packers, a season finale against the Vikings, a road trip to Buffalo, plus games against the Jaguars, Dolphins, and Saints. Several of those teams are currently in playoff position, and the NFC North continues to look like the strongest division in football.

If the Bears are going to prove they’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders, they’re going to have to earn it.

The good news? They’re getting healthier.

Kyle Monangai’s Return Could Change Everything

One of the biggest storylines after the bye week will be the expected return of Kyle Monangai.

The Bears had Monangai practicing prior to the Tampa Bay game, but elected to keep him sidelined and give him the extra two weeks of recovery rather than rush him back. Considering how important he was early in the season, that decision could pay huge dividends down the stretch.

Chicago’s offense has survived without him, but having a healthy Monangai paired with DeAndre Swift would give Ben Johnson another weapon as the weather starts getting colder and games become more physical.

A fresh Monangai entering the final stretch of the season feels like a significant addition to the offense.

The Defense Is Getting Reinforcements Too

Chicago’s defense could also receive multiple important pieces back in the coming weeks.

Malik Muhammad is expected back after dealing with an ankle issue. That’s a major boost for a secondary that has battled injuries throughout the season. Muhammad has been one of the biggest surprises on the roster and immediately upgrades the defensive back room.

The Bears are also optimistic that Dayo Odeyingbo could return around Week 11 against New Orleans after spending time on injured reserve with a quad injury. When healthy, Odeyingbo gives Dennis Allen another versatile pass rusher to pair alongside Jeffery Simmons and the rest of the defensive front.

Perhaps the most interesting recovery timeline belongs to Coby Bryant. While his return is still further away, Chicago remains hopeful he could return sometime in late December. A Christmas Day showdown against Green Bay has been mentioned as a potential target.

Getting Bryant back for the final few weeks of the season and a potential playoff push would be enormous.

The Bears Are Built for This

The NFL schedule makers did Chicago absolutely no favors.

Detroit twice. Buffalo on the road. Green Bay. Minnesota. Jacksonville. Miami. That’s a gauntlet.

But the Bears are entering it healthier, deeper, and more confident than they were a month ago.

Caleb Williams has fully established himself as the franchise quarterback. Ben Johnson has this offense operating at a high level. Jeffery Simmons has transformed the defense. And they’ll soon be adding reinforcements at multiple positions.

The bye week arrived at the perfect time.

As for the final record? I still believe this team finishes either 12-5 or 13-4. The schedule is too difficult to predict a perfect run, but this roster is talented enough to win the majority of these games.

If that happens, Chicago won’t just be heading back to the playoffs.

They’ll be heading there as one of the most dangerous teams in the NFC.