Rematch between Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels headlines top games on the Bears' 2025 schedule in first season under Ben Johnson
The Chicago Bears' fully released 2025 schedule is finally here and it's going to be a packed one for the first season under head coach Ben Johnson.Overall, the Bears will have an early bye week, five primetime matchups, and a loaded 17-game schedule. Here's the full list: Bears' 2025 Schedule Week 1: vs. Vikings on […]
The Chicago Bears' fully released 2025 schedule is finally here and it's going to be a packed one for the first season under head coach Ben Johnson.
Overall, the Bears will have an early bye week, five primetime matchups, and a loaded 17-game schedule. Here's the full list:
Bears' 2025 Schedule
- Week 1: vs. Vikings on Monday, Sept. 8th
- Week 2: at Lions on Sunday, Sept. 14th
- Week 3: vs Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 21st
- Week 4: at Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 28th
- Week 5: BYE
- Week 6: at Commanders on Monday, Oct. 13th
- Week 7: vs Saints on Sunday, Oct. 19th
- Week 8: at Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 26th
- Week 9:at Bengals on Sunday, Nov. 2nd
- Week 10: vs. Giants on Sunday, Nov. 9th
- Week 11: at Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 16th
- Week 12: vs Steelers on Sunday, Nov. 23rd
- Week 13: at Eagles on Friday, Nov. 28th (Black Friday)
- Week 14: at Packers on Sunday, Dec. 7th
- Week 15: vs Browns on Sunday, Dec. 14th
- Week 16: vs. Packers on Saturday, Dec. 20th
- Week 17: at 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 28th
- Week 18: vs. Lions on Sat/Sun, Jan. 3rd/4th
Biggest Games on the Bears' 2025 Schedule
Bears at Commanders: Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels Part II, I mean do I really have to say more after how the first NFL matchup between these exciting young quarterbacks ended in 2024?
Bears vs. Packers: During Ben Johnson's introductory press conference, the Bears' new coach explained how he enjoyed beating Packers' head coach Matt LaFleur twice a year. Beating Green Bay, just once a year, has been a struggle for Chicago presenting a big challenge for Johnson if he wants to continue that trend and back up the talk.
Bears at Lions: Ben Johnson's return to Detroit will make for a great story and an even bigger first matchup. A lot of Lions fans, and players, despised the idea of Johnson leaving the ship and joining a division rival. Both matchups will be big games against the NFC North Champs, but going back to Detroit will be loaded with emotion.
Bears at Eagles: Ben Johnson-led Bears team looking to prove themselves on the road against the defending Super Bowl Champs? I mean it really doesn't get much better than this. This game will determine if the Bears are truly ready to go up against the big dogs in the NFC or if there's still more to be done.
Primetime matchups with viewing/streaming info
Which games will be primetime viewing and which ones will be streamed?
The Bears have a total of five primetime games in 2025:
- Week 1 vs. Vikings – Monday Night Football on ESPN
- Week 6 at Commanders – Monday Night Football on ESPN
- Week 13 at Eagles – Black Friday Special on Amazon Prime Video
- Week 16 vs Packers – Saturday Double-Header on FOX
- Week 17 at 49ers – Sunday Night Football on NBC
Strength of Schedule (based off Vegas win totals, not 2024 record)
Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis does this cool thing every year where he ranks teams' strength of schedule based off Vegas' projected win totals for the upcoming season. He doesn't base it off the standard last-year's-record model and it makes a lot more sense, because of all the change teams go through in the offseason.
Sharp has the Bears' SOS ranked 26th. The NFC North has one of the toughest strength of schedules, as the Packers, Bears, Vikings, and Lions all respectively rank 23rd, 26th, 28th, and 30th:
Revenge Games on the Bears' 2025 schedule
- Both Lions matchups: Chicago dropped both contests against the eventual NFL North Champs during the 2024 season and with Ben Johnson leading the Bears now against his former team, these matchups mean even more.
- Both Vikings matchups: Just like with the Lions, the Bears dropped both games against the Vikings in 2024. The first one was a close one that ended in overtime, the second was a blowout on the road.
- Hail Mary Revenge: One of the toughest moments of the 2024 season occurred in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders. After taking the lead with :25 remaining, the Bears still lost on a Hail Mary touchdown by Jayden Daniels. Washington went on to win 6 of their last 9 games while the Bears lost 9 of their final 10 games. It was a major turning point for both teams.
5 Must-Watch Matchups
- Ben Johnson vs Kyle Shanahan – Maybe it's just me, but this matchup between the Bears and 49ers could be a lot of fun. Kyle Shanahan is one of the best, if not the best, offensive play-callers in the league. Ben Johnson is quickly rising to that level and if his new offense in Chicago can keep up with Shanahan's high-powered offense, he might be able to steal that title.
- Bears OL vs. Eagles Pass Rush – In Super Bowl LIX, the Eagles showed how dominant their pass rush can be and somehow the unit got even better this offseason despite losing two free agents. This game will be the ultimate test for the revamped Bears' O-Line to see if they can compete with a top pass rush.
- Bears Offense vs. Matt Eberflus – Given how things ended in 2024, the players in the locker room have likely circled the matchup against the Cowboys. Former head coach Matt Eberflus was hired as the defensive coordinator in Dallas this offseason and the Bears will be eager to run the score up against his unit.
- Bears Defense vs. Aaron Rodgers? – This one is still up in the air, but everyone assumes Aaron Rodgers will be starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. The last time the Bears faced Rodgers was in 2021, where he won his fourth consecutive game against the Bears. All-time, Rodgers is 24-5 vs. Chicago.
- Bears IDL vs. Derrick Henry – Another underrated matchup to really see how well the Bears overhauled a struggling unit. Chicago added two new interior defenders in Grady Jarrett and Shemar Turner, going up against Derrick Henry and the Ravens' offense will be the biggest test for those two additions on that unit.
