Bears can make massive statement after first 4 games of 2024 NFL season

The 2024 NFL schedule is set, and here are the Chicago Bears’ first four games:

Week 1: Bears vs Tennessee Titans

Week 2: Bears at Houston Texans

Week 3: Bears at Indianapolis Colts

Week 4: Bears vs LA Rams

This impressive slate of games will give the Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams the opportunity to make a big opening statement to the NFL masses.

Let’s take a closer look at each matchup.

Week 1 vs. Titans

While the Bears won’t be opening the season with one of my preferred matchups, I like getting the Titans at home. Williams’ NFL debut will be in front of a friendly crowd against a defense that gave up 245 passing yards a game last season. Tennessee’s Dennard Wilson is a first-time defensive coordinator and will be tasked with slowing down a receiver room led by DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and rookie Rome Odunze.

The Bears should win this comfortably. I can’t see second-year quarterback Will Levis doing much damage against Chicago’s defense, and the Bears should have more than enough firepower on offense to maintain a two-score lead.

Week 2 at Texans

Next up is a Sunday Night Football slugfest with the Houston Texans, the team that the Bears will hope to emulate in 2024. Assuming Williams is “as advertised,” this quarterback showdown between him and CJ Stroud will be electric.

The Texans will also bring a fearsome defensive front into this one, led by Will Anderson Jr. and former Minnesota Viking Danielle Hunter.

After a semi-soft landing for his NFL debut, Williams will be thrown to the wolves in his first away game. Bears fans would love for Williams to win this quarterback duel, but right now, that doesn’t seem likely.

Sincerely yours,

The Bears pic.twitter.com/RlK3NvLQBF

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 16, 2024

Week 3 at Colts

The Chicago Bears stay on the road for Week 3 and face yet another AFC South opponent with an exciting young quarterback: the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts were minutes away from a playoff berth last year despite Anthony Richardson missing most of the season. While not quite as tough of a matchup as the Texans, the Colts are no pushovers, and the Bears’ offensive line will have to ensure that three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner doesn’t ruin their game plan.

Richardson, more than most quarterbacks in recent memory, needs a lot more experience to be a true threat in the NFL, and he barely played in his rookie season. I expect he will still go through his rookie growing pains this early in 2023 and will probably look less polished than Williams. The Bears should be able to steal win here.

Week 4 vs. Rams

Finally, the Bears return to Soldier Field for a game against the Rams. While Aaron Donald’s retirement certainly makes this game look a lot more winnable, the Rams are still an excellent team, led by quarterback Matt Stafford and head coach Sean McVay. Even at their best, Chicago’s defense will have difficulty slowing down the Rams’ offense.

Out of all four of these games, this one is the closest we have to a toss-up, which I’ll give to the Bears.

There’s a real possibility here for the Bears to start the season 3-1, which would leave fans feeling great about the future.

Going 3-1 against this schedule would likely mean that Williams played at a high level already. With the lowly Carolina Panthers next on deck, it would prime the Chicago Bears for their best start to a season since 2020.