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Chicago Bears 2021 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

By Mike Phillips

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 27: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears rushes the passer during the first quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on December 27, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 27: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears rushes the passer during the first quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on December 27, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 26: Darrell Henderson #27 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball under pressure from Jaylon Johnson #33 of the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at SoFi Stadium on October 26, 2020, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 26: Darrell Henderson #27 of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball under pressure from Jaylon Johnson #33 of the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at SoFi Stadium on October 26, 2020, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

These five games are the most important contests on the Bears’ 2021 schedule.

The 2020 season was an interesting one for the Chicago Bears, who started out hot but backed into the playoffs at 8-8 before losing a brutal game to the New Orleans Saints on Wild Card Weekend. There was also plenty of quarterback drama for Chicago in the offseason, including a pursuit of a Carson Wentz deal that fell apart when Wentz made it known he had no desire to play in the Windy City. Now, Justin Fields enters the fray.

This season is an important one for general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy, both of whom could be on the hot seat since the franchise has gone backwards after a breakthrough 12-4 campaign in 2018.

The pressure is on for the Bears to get back to the playoffs and win at least one game in 2021, but the first order of business for Chicago is to take care of business in these five must-win games during the regular season.

5 must-win games for the Bears on the 2021 NFL Schedule

5. At Los Angeles Rams

The Wild Card route was the path to the postseason for Chicago in 2020 and could be the ticket back for the Bears in 2021. The biggest obstacle in that path is the loaded NFC West, which Chicago faces this season, making every win against a team in that division a potential tiebreaker that can fall in the Bears’ favor.

One big game that the Bears have to win is their trip to SoFi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Rams, who boast a new quarterback familiar to Chicago in Matthew Stafford. The Rams are hoping that Stafford can help bring them back into Super Bowl contention and his familiarity with facing the Bears’ defense from his time in Detroit can be a significant advantage.

These two teams met in 2020 with the Rams scoring a win over Chicago on Monday Night Football. Finding a way to even the score would provide a big win for the Bears and give them a key tiebreaker advantage over Los Angeles.

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