NFL schedule 2018: Each team’s biggest game

Chicago Bears: vs. Green Bay Packers

If there was a year to beat the Packers at least one time over the last few seasons, it would have been last year with Aaron Rodgers out and the mostly overmatched Brett Hundley starting the second game. But the Bears couldn’t quite pull it off, with a 23-16 loss in Week 10.

Former Bears head coach Lovie Smith pointed to the importance of the rivalry with the Packers when he was introduced. Similar public declarations have not followed from subsequent head coaches, probably rightfully so, but beating the Packers is still a high priority for the franchise with the two annual games as proverbial tent poles on the schedule.

The Bears have made some significant moves this offseason to turn around their recent fortunes, including a new head coach in Matt Nagy, and they have the eighth overall pick in the upcoming draft. The home game this year against the Packers will be their Super Bowl, barring a shocking run to the actual game, and Soldier Field will be ready to go in support of the local squad.