The Bears stepped back into the national spotlight with a resurgent 2018 season and will remain there this year, playing five prime-time games and making another appearance on Thanksgiving.
The reigning NFC North champions already knew that they would kick off the NFL's 100th season by hosting the Packers Thursday night, Sept. 5 at Soldier Field (7:20 p.m. CT). But the rest of the 2019 schedule that was released by the NFL Wednesday includes four additional night games for the Bears.
Two of those contests will be on the road—against the Redskins in Washington Monday night, Sept. 23 (7:15 p.m.), and versus the Rams in Los Angeles Sunday night, Oct. 27 (7:20 p.m.). The other two will be at Soldier Field—against the Cowboys Thursday night, Dec. 5 (7:20 p.m.), and the Chiefs Sunday night, Dec. 22 (7:20 p.m.).
The Bears will also battle the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 (11:30 a.m.), for the second straight year. The Bears won last year's contest 23-16, their third victory against a division opponent in a 12-day span.
After opening their 100th season by hosting the Packers, the Bears will travel to Denver for a Week 2 clash against the Broncos and new head coach Vic Fangio—their former defensive coordinator—Sunday, Sept. 15 (3:25 p.m.).
The Bears will then make their lone Monday Night Football appearance of the season in Week 3, in Washington, the only time they'll play back-to-back road contests all year.
After a Week 4 home game against the Vikings Sunday, Sept. 29, (3:25 p.m.) the Bears will travel to London to face the Raiders Sunday, Oct. 6 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (noon).
After a Week 6 bye, the Bears will play back-to-back home games for the only time this season, hosting the Saints Sunday, Oct. 20 (3:25 p.m.), and the Chargers Sunday, Oct. 27.
The Week 8 contest against the Chargers will be the Bears' first that begins at noon at the site of the game. (The Raiders contest kicks off at noon CT, but 6 p.m. in London).
Starting with the Chargers contest, the Bears will alternate home and road games over the final 10 weeks of the season.
They'll visit the Eagles in Philadelphia Sunday, Nov. 3 (noon), return home to host the Lions Sunday, Nov. 10 (noon), travel to face the Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday Night Football and then host the Giants Sunday, Nov. 24 (noon) in Week 12.
The Bears will then play back-to-back Thursday games, against the Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day followed by a night contest versus the Cowboys at Soldier Field.
The Bears will then visit the Packers Sunday, Dec. 15. It's the first time the teams will play their annual game in Green Bay at noon since 2011, snapping a streak of eight straight prime-time matchups at Lambeau Field.
The Bears will then host the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football three days before Christmas and close the season against the Vikings in Minnesota for the fourth straight year (noon).
The Bears on Wednesday also announced dates and times for their four preseason games.
The NFC North champions will host the Panthers at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 at Soldier Field. They will then visit the Giants in New York at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 and the Colts in Indianapolis at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24. The Bears will then close the preseason by hosting the Titans at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29.
