A new regime means a fresh start for Chicago Bears players and fresh expectations for the organization. However, a rebuilding roster has not inspired confidence in many beyond the walls of Halas Hall. As part of Last Word on Pro Football’s schedule analysis series, let’s sort out which contests figure to be the easiest (chance to steal a win) and which are the toughest.
We began with the tougher games and will now cover the easiest ones on the slate.
Easiest Games on the Chicago Bears 2022 Schedule
9. Week 6 vs Washington Commanders (Thursday Night Football)
This game could have easily made the toughest portion of our breakdown. But they end up as the most difficult of the Bears’ easier games. Carson Wentz is the reason for both. His presence both raises their ceiling and lowers their floor. Despite throwing 27 touchdowns to seven interceptions last season, he struggled mightily in the Indianapolis Colts’ final two regular-season games costing Matt Eberflus’ former team a shot at the postseason.
10. Week 18 vs Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins’ recent dominance over the Bears has not been limited to his home field, winning each of the last two showdowns at Soldier Field. The fact that the Vikings have a new head coach creates some room for optimism. But Mike McConnell comes over after helping guide the Los Angeles Rams’ offense to top-10 finishes in points and yards as the offensive coordinator.
11. Week 9 vs Miami Dolphins
This could very easily end up as a matchup we look back on and say it should have been rated much higher (tougher). The Miami Dolphins have made their offensive identity clear with the addition of Tyreek Hill and Raheem Mostert to Jaylen Waddle around Tua Tagovialoa at quarterback. Tight end Mike Gesicki also figures to feature prominently in new head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme.
12. Week 4 @ New York Giants
Whereas the Eagles feel like a team the Bears are aspiring to be this season, the New York Giants feel more like a team on the brink of what the Bears became before last season. Daniel Jones is entering the final year of his contract a la Mitchell Trubisky as is running back Saquan Barkley. The Bears have won each of the last three meetings.
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13. Week 17 @ Detroit Lions
The Bears have lost to the Detroit Lions just once since the 2017 season. Even that came back in 2020. Dan Campbell’s team might be much improved under him. But they still roster Jared Goff who is very much the quarterback Cousins is advertised to be just with a Super Bowl appearance to his name.
14. Week 12 @ New York Jets
Year 2 under Robert Saleh should be better for the New York Jets. But to what extent that makes them better than the Bears is questionable at best. They do have a trio of highly-touted rookies in Ahmad Gardner, Garret Wilson, and Jermaine Johnson II joining the fold. This still feels like a battle that will come down to Justin Fields versus Zach Wilson.
15. Week 11 @ Atlanta Falcons
Shout out to Ryan Pace. Surely the former Bears general manager, now a senior personnel executive with the Atlanta Falcons, would like nothing more than to get a win in this spot. Unfortunately for him, his new team mishandled their quarterback situation this offseason pursuing Deshaun Watson and, now, falls back on Marcus Mariota.
16. Week 3 vs Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are staking their 2022 season on the right arm of their second-year passer, Davis Mills. He went 2-9 as a starter last season. They do figure to be much improved from the 31st-ranked defense last season the additions of Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre in the draft.
17. Week 10 vs Detroit Lions
Sorry, Campbell and Goff. To be fair, there is a lot of unknown despite the head coach going into his second season at the helm in the Motor City. And Goff will have D.J. Chark and rookie Jameson Williams to throw to. Their defense also added Aidan Hutchison and Josh Paschal in the draft.
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