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The 2013 NFL schedules have been released and the Chicago Bears have realized that their playoff run won’t come easy this year. With the schedule comes analysis and a bit of excitement as this is one of the most anticipated events of the offseason.
Here is the Bears’ 2013 schedule excluding preseason games:
- Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 2: Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 3: @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:30 p.m.
- Week 4: @ Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 5: New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 6: New York Giants, 8:25 p.m.
- Week 7: @ Washington Redskins, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 8: BYE
- Week 9: @ Green Bay Packers, 8:40 p.m.
- Week 10: Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 11: Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 12: @ St. Louis Rams, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 13: @ Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 14: Dallas Cowboys, 8:40 p.m.
- Week 15: @ Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 16: @ Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 p.m.
- Week 17: Green Bay Packers, 1:00 p.m.
This schedule is obviously not one of the easiest schedules in the league with contenders like the Bengals, Vikings, Saints, Giants, Ravens, Cowboys and Packers being their home games and the Lions possibly being a contender after a mediocre 2012 season.
It will be interesting to see how new head coach Marc Trestman handles the grueling NFL schedule and with a team like his looking to make a playoff push, the pressure that comes with being the Bears’ coach.
Anything less than a playoff appearance is sure to be a disappointment in Chicago. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall have become one of the best quarterback-receiver combos in the league and will look to improve the offense in 2013. However, the amount of playoff contenders that the Bears face is almost unfair.
With a schedule like this, if they can come out on top 10 times, they deserve to be a title favorite.
I think this team will finish 9-7 and make a strong playoff run next season. The first year under Trestman may be more successful than people think.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
