Fansided

Each NFL team’s most important game in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

Chicago Bears outside linebackers Khalil Mack (52) and Leonard Floyd (94) sack Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) on December 16, 2018, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
Chicago Bears outside linebackers Khalil Mack (52) and Leonard Floyd (94) sack Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) on December 16, 2018, at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 06: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears anticipates a play against the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Eagles defeated the Bears 16-15. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 06: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears anticipates a play against the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Eagles defeated the Bears 16-15. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Chicago Bears: Week 7 vs. New Orleans Saints

A season, this was a team that finished 12-4 won the NFC North for the first time since 2010. This was following a four-year stretch in which the Chicago Bears managed a combined 19-45 record and finished last in the division each of those seasons.

It was quite the NFL head coaching debut for Matt Nagy. But now the expectations are very high for a franchise that hasn’t made consecutive playoff appearances since the 2005 and ’06 seasons. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky made big strides in his second year and thanks to the August addition of standout edge performer Khalil Mack, the Chicago defense was arguably the most feared unit in the league.

The Bears have quite the interesting slate to start 2019. Chicago and Green Bay will kick off the league’s 100th season on a Thursday night at Soldier Field. And 10 days later, the Bears head to Denver to renew acquaintances with former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. A Monday night trip to Washington is followed by a home date with the Vikings. Then it’s off to London to face Mack’s old club in the Oakland Raiders.

When Nagy’s team return after an off week, the club begins a three-game stretch against teams that reached the playoffs in 2018. It starts with home dates against the Saints and Chargers, followed by a trip to Philadelphia for a wild card rematch. That’s quite a stretch for a team that hopes to end its season in South Florida on February 2. And Chicago’s defense will face quite the test vs. Drew Brees and company.

Next: Cincinnati Bengals

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