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Chicago Bears 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

By Matt Conner

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears takes the field prior to a game against the New York Giants at Soldier Field on November 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Matt Nagy of the Chicago Bears takes the field prior to a game against the New York Giants at Soldier Field on November 24, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers drops back to pass during a game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on December 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers drops back to pass during a game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on December 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

For the Chicago Bears to make the leap back to contender from pretender, they’re going to need to put away these five teams in 2020.

The Chicago Bears have taken some heat this offseason from talking heads who point to the team’s inability to depend on starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and their subsequent trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for Nick Foles.

The 2019 season featured another fearsome defensive effort ruined by offensive ineptitude, and now the Bears are hoping some tough love and competition for Trubisky will either force a breakthrough—or that Foles can minimize mistakes enough to get back to winning.

The good news for the Bears is that the heralded defense should be exactly that again in 2020. Roquan Smith should be healthy and roaming the middle of the defense alongside the recently extended Danny Trevathan. Robert Quinn is the new pass-rushing import set to replace the disappointing Leonard Floyd.

The Bears finished the season with four wins in their final six games and should enter 2020 with some confidence. Upgrading the play at quarterback, whether through an inspired Trubisky or the new face in Foles, should be the difference between winning and losing.

Home: Green Bay Packers

If the Bears are ready to move back to double-digit wins and a postseason appearance in 2020, then they have to take care of the NFC North. That work begins with stopping Aaron Rodgers. The Packers are likely going to add a wideout or two in the upcoming draft and they also signed Devin Funchess. They also added Christian Kirksey to a linebacker corps that needing further retooling.

The Bears scored only 16 total points in two regular season losses to Green Bay last year and they simply have to do better—much better—than that to move forward in 2020. Much of that can be blamed on four total turnovers in those games, which means minimizing mistakes is the top objective. Can Trubisky make better decisions with the ball? Can Foles step up if needed in the North?

The Bears will do no better than 8-8 if they can’t at least split the season series here.

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