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          NFL Nation

          Chicago Bears' 2022 schedule: Can Justin Fields and Co. capitalize on NFL's sixth-easiest schedule?

          Justin Fields showed improvement late in his rookie season, but he'll need to take a big step up in his second year to help the Bears succeed. Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire
          • Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterMay 12, 2022, 08:58 PM ET
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              Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.

          CHICAGO -- The a Chicago Bears’ 2022 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate on Thursday.

          The season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 8, with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium. ESPN opens its schedule with Monday Night Football on Sept. 12, featuring the Denver Broncos hosting the Seattle Seahawks.

          The NFL expanded to 17 regular-season games last season. The final regular-season games in 2022 will be played Jan. 8, 2023. The playoffs begin Jan. 14, and continue through Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, in Glendale, Arizona.

          Here's what's in store for the Bears:

          Schedule

          Sept. 11: vs. San Francisco

          Sept. 18: at Green Bay (SNF)

          Sept. 25: vs. Houston

          Oct. 2: at New York Giants

          Oct. 9: at Minnesota

          Oct. 13: vs. Washington (TNF)

          Oct. 24: at New England (MNF)

          Oct. 30: at Dallas

          Nov. 6: vs. Miami

          Nov. 13: vs. Detroit

          Nov. 20: at Atlanta

          Nov. 27: at New York Jets

          Dec. 4: vs. Green Bay

          Dec. 11: BYE

          Dec. 18: vs. Philadelphia

          Dec. 24: vs. Buffalo

          Jan. 1: at Detroit

          Jan. 7/8: vs. Minnesota

          Strength of schedule: T-24th: .471

          Biggest takeaway

          Despite being at the beginning of a rebuild, the NFL still thinks highly of the Bears as a prime-time draw and has Chicago scheduled for three night games in the first seven weeks of the season. The Bears were 0-4 in 2021 in prime time, including a late-season loss at Green Bay, which is where they’ll play on Sept. 18 for Sunday Night Football for a third straight year. Coming off a meeting with the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football, the Bears will hit the road and head to Foxborough, Massachusetts, where they’ll face the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football on Oct. 24.

          Revenge game

          First-year Houston coach Lovie Smith spent nine seasons with the Bears from 2004 to '12 and makes his return to Soldier Field in Week 3. Smith’s 81 wins are the third most by a head coach in Bears history.

          What the oddsmakers think

          The oddsmakers have the Bears' win total at 6.5. The NFC North is more open than years past, but Chicago isn’t a team currently built to contend for the playoffs, let alone a division title. The Bears will play 13 straight games before they get a week off late in the season. If they want to hit the over, they might have to rely on their defense to carry the load with some early wins as Justin Fields builds chemistry with his new teammates during the early portion of the schedule.

          Bold prediction

          Chicago will avenge its 2021 loss to San Francisco by beating the 49ers in its season opener.