The Chicago Bears have the toughest schedule by win percentage for the upcoming 2026 NFL season. Chicago is in a good spot with quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson. The Bears won the NFC North division with an 11-6 record last season.
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Jan 18, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) runs with the ball against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (31) during the fourth quarter of an NFC Divisional Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Chicago is looking to win the NFC North division for the second straight season. The Bears play in a difficult division with the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions, and the Minnesota Vikings. What is going to be the most critical game on Chicago’s schedule for the upcoming 2026 NFL season?
NFL Insider Believes That the Chicago Bears Christmas Day Game Against the Green Bay Packers Will Have High Stakes
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Jan 18, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) scrambles against the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter of an NFC Divisional Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Dan Wiederer of the Athletic wrote about the Bears schedule for the 2026 NFL season. He thinks that the most important game on the schedule this upcoming season will be against Green Bay at home on Christmas Day. Wiederer said,
“Santa Claus will barely be back out of the chimney when the Christmas Day kickoff at Soldier Field occurs. Eleven weeks after the Bears and Packers meet for the first time this season in Green Bay, they will reunite for a showcase game by Lake Michigan that ideally will have a lot at stake.
Last season, the rivalry was renewed with three down-to-the-wire classics. The Bears won the final two meetings, both at Soldier Field. In a wild-card round playoff clash, Chicago overcame a 21-3 second-half deficit to stun the Packers 31-27.
The teams have met twice on Christmas during the Super Bowl era. The Bears won 24-17 at Lambeau Field in 2005. Green Bay scored a 35-21 victory in the same venue in 2011.”
These two teams played each other three times last season. The home team won all three matchups. The Bears made a major comeback in the wild card game against the Packers last season. Chicago lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round last season in overtime. This franchise is looking to take the next step and get to the Super Bowl. They have not been there since the 2006-2007 NFL season.
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