The Chicago Bears had a remarkable NFL season with first-year head coach Ben Johnson and star quarterback Caleb Williams. The team won the NFC North division and progressed to the NFC Divisional Round. Caleb Williams shone, nearing 4,000 passing yards in his sophomore season and his first year under Coach Johnson’s leadership.
Coach Johnson has ambitious aims for the upcoming season. Our goal is to win the Super Bowl. I want more than that. I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever,
he stated in an interview with Dan Pompei of The Athletic. He referenced the 2013 Denver Broncos, who averaged 37.9 points per game under the leadership of Peyton Manning. Last season, the Bears averaged 25.9 points per game.
This season, the Bears face challenges. Receiver Luther Burden sustained a preseason training camp injury, but he is expected to return soon. Significant injuries have also plagued the team, with safety Coby Bryant out for up to six months and cornerback Kyler Gordon nursing a calf issue. The Bears defense didn’t manage a shutout last season. The closest was a 31-3 victory over the Cleveland Browns in December 2025.
Despite early successes, the schedule presents a formidable challenge. ESPN reports that the Bears will play the toughest schedule in the NFL this season. They kick off the preseason against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, Aug. 15. Browns are evaluating Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders for the quarterback position.
The Bears’ regular season starts with a game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Aug. 13, followed by a home game on Sunday, Aug. 20, against the Minnesota Vikings. Additional matchups include the Philadelphia Eagles and last year’s Super Bowl contenders, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, alongside anticipated NFC North divisional games.
Fox Sports has set Chicago’s over/under win total at 9.5 games, with a tendency toward the under. This suggests a potential decline from the successful 2025 season, conflicting with Coach Johnson’s stated Super Bowl aspirations.