Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
Why are the Bears playing their 17th game this season on the road against the Raiders? How was that determined?
Jermaine P.
Belvidere, Illinois
With the regular season schedule expanding from 16 to 17 games this year, every team will play an opponent from the other conference that finished in the same place in the standings the previous year. In 2021, the NFC North is paired with the AFC West. (The divisions will rotate every year.) So after finishing second last season, the Bears will play the Raiders, who were also second. The other three matchups involving the NFC North and AFC West are Packers at Chiefs (first place), Vikings at Chargers (third place) and Lions at Broncos (fourth place). To keep a level playing field, all 16 NFC teams will play on the road against their AFC opponents in 2021 and all odd-numbered years, with NFC clubs hosting those games in 2022 and all even-numbered years. There are now three games each season determined by where teams finish in the standings the previous year. For example, the Bears play the Giants and Buccaneers this season because those two teams also finished second last year in their respective divisions.
It seems to me like it's only a matter of time until the NFL goes to 18 regular-season games and two preseason games. When do you think that will happen?
Barry W.
Elgin, Illinois
It appears that the NFL schedule will remain at 17 games at least for the next 10 seasons. It's my understanding that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that was ratified last year and extends through the 2030 season prohibits the schedule from expanding to 18 games. So unless something changes, it will remain at 17 games for at least the next decade.
Will the 17th game that was just added be held the final week of the season?
Wally T.
North Carolina
I don't know this for certain, but I'm fairly sure that the NFL will continue to schedule intra-division games the final week of the season—which now will be known as Week 18—in an effort to create matchups with the most playoff implications. I imagine the extra games—which are all NFC vs. AFC contests—will be sprinkled throughout the course of the year.
Chalk Talk features fan questions multiple times each week. Email your question to Larry.
With the NFL expanding the regular-season schedule to 17 games, take a look at the Bears' finalized home and away matchups for the 2021 season.
Home vs. Arizona Cardinals
Last meeting in Chicago: Sept. 20, 2015
Score: Bears 23 - Cardinals 48
Home vs. San Francisco 49ers
Last meeting in Chicago: Dec. 3, 2017
Score: Bears 14 - 49ers 15
Home vs. Baltimore Ravens
Last meeting in Chicago: Nov. 17, 2013
Score: Bears 23 - Ravens 20
Home vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Last meeting in Chicago: Sept. 8, 2013
Score: Bears 24 - Bengals 21
Home vs. New York Giants
Last meeting in Chicago: Sept. 20, 2020
Score: Bears 17 - Giants 13
Home vs. Detroit Lions
Last meeting in Chicago: Dec. 6, 2020
Score: Bears 30 - Lions 34
Home vs. Minnesota Vikings
Last meeting in Chicago: Nov. 16, 2020
Score: Bears 13 - Vikings 19
Home vs. Green Bay Packers
Last meeting in Chicago: Jan. 3, 2021
Score: Bears 16 - Packers 35
Away vs. Los Angeles Rams
Last meeting in Los Angeles: Oct. 26, 2020
Score: Bears 10 - Rams 24
Away vs. Seattle Seahawks
Last meeting in Seattle: Sept. 27, 2015
Score: Bears 0 - Seahawks 26
Away vs. Cleveland Browns
Last meeting in Cleveland: Dec. 15, 2013
Score: Bears 38 - Browns 31
Away vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last meeting in Pittsburgh: Sept. 22, 2013
Score: Bears 40 - Steelers 23
Away vs.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last meeting in Tampa: Sept. 17, 2017
Score: Bears 7 - Buccaneers 29
Away vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Last meeting at Raiders: Oct. 6, 2019 (London)
Score: Bears 21 - Raiders 24
Away vs. Detroit Lions
Last meeting in Detroit: Sept. 13, 2020
Score: Bears 27 - Lions 23
Away vs. Minnesota Vikings
Last meeting in Minnesota: Dec. 20, 2020
Score: Bears 33 - Vikings 27
Away vs. Green Bay Packers
Last meeting in Green Bay: Nov. 29, 2020
Score: Bears 25 - Packers 41
