(670 The Score) At long last, the NFL's regular-season schedule for 2023 has arrived. With it, the Bears' 17-game slate has been set.
The Bears will play eight home games at Soldier Field and nine contests on the road. Four of the games will be in primetime.
Here's a look at the Bears' full schedule. Four months out from kickoff of a new season, here are the five Bears games that I'm most looking forward to watching.
Week 1: vs. Packers
There figures to be a different energy in the preseason with the the rival Packers standing as the Bears' first opponent of the regular season, and Soldier Field will be buzzing on Sept. 10.
This will mark the start of quarterback Justin Fields' much-anticipated third season in the league and begin a campaign in Chicago that brings renewed hope.
This will also mark the first time since 1991 that the Bears will face a Packers team without Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers on the roster. Jordan Love will make the start in the first game of the post-Rodgers era.
Are the Bears going to finally overtake the Packers in the NFL's longest-standing rivalry? Both of these teams will have something to prove in the opener.
Week 3: at Chiefs
The NFL didn't send the Bears off to Germany for their meeting with the Chiefs, but there's always a buzz in facing the defending Super Bowl champion.
The Bears will take on the Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which is one of the most intimidating venues in the league. The game will feature a pair of dynamic quarterbacks in Fields and the great Patrick Mahomes, and it will serve a litmus test for the Bears as they look to rise back into contention.
Adding to the intrigue is that former Bears coach Matt Nagy now serves as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator.
Week 8: at Chargers
The Bears' defense will get a great test against star quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers as Chicago returns to SoFi Stadium for the first time since playing its season opener in 2021 at the Los Angeles Rams.
This will mark a reunion for the Bears as they face Chargers star pass rusher Khalil Mack and head coach Brandon Staley, who was once an assistant on staff in Chicago.
Week 10: vs. Panthers
The Bears will be extra incentivized to earn a victory over the Panthers. Not only would that bolster Chicago in the standings, but from the Bears' perspective, it would also enhance the value of the 2024 first-round pick that the Panthers owe them.
In late April, the Panthers selected quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick that they acquired from the Bears, adding a player whom they hope can carry the franchise forward. So this fascinating matchup on Thursday Night Football will feature the quarterback whom Chicago could've had but instead passed on in dealing away the top pick.
For Fields, it's another opportunity to prove himself in front of a primetime audience. He'll have help in the form of dynamic receiver DJ Moore, whom the Bears acquired from the Panthers.
This is a reminder that these two teams will be linked together and compared for years.
Week 11: at Lions
There's a growing belief that the Lions are prepared to take the NFC North crown. I'm not so sure of that.
The division feels wide open, and while the Lions have made significant improvements over the last few years, it's hard to imagine them running away with the NFC North.
The Bears could well be in the mix for the division title late in the season, so this might prove to be a pivotal game with playoff stakes on the line. That hasn't happened often in games between the Bears and the Lions, but they could be a pair of upstart teams in 2023.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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