Bears' Win-Loss Predictions for 2024 NFL Season
The Chicago Bears' expectations for the 2024 NFL season grow with every ball Caleb Williams throws in preseason.
The Williams-powered offense has the potential to get off to a fantastic start in 2024 because of a softer schedule.
Chicago's last-place finish in the NFC North last year means it plays weaker in-conference opponents.
A full slate against the AFC South, one of the weaker divisions in football, helps the Bears as well.
The schedule breaks well for the Bears in September and October, so it would not be a surprise to hear them in the playoff conversation as the season makes its turn into November.
September
Week 1: vs. Tennessee
Week 2: at Houston
Week 3: at Indianapolis
Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Bears could not have asked for a better schedule to get Caleb Williams acclimated to the NFL.
The three straight games against AFC South foes and Week 4 home game against the Los Angeles Rams present the Bears with a chance to leave September with a winning record.
The Week 2 road game in Houston is obviously the hardest game of the quartet, but if Williams goes off in Week 1, there will be a ton of buzz around that contest pitting this year's star rookie quarterback against last year's rookie phenom C.J. Stroud.
Tennessee and Indianapolis may not sure of what they will look like early in the season and that could benefit the Bears and all the veteran players they surrounded Williams with.
The showdown with Matthew Stafford and the Rams will come down to how the defense slows down the Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
It is a winnable game to end the month, but if the Bears leave September at 2-2, it will be viewed as a good first step in Williams' career.
September Record Projection: 2-2
October
Week 5: vs. Carolina
Week 6: vs. Jacksonville (in London)
Week 7 Bye
Week 8: at Washington
Two wins should come from the October schedule.
The Bears are far ahead of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders in their roster building around a young quarterback.
Carolina may still be working out the fixes under first-year head coach Dave Canales at the start of the October.
Washington's record could look okay by Week 8 thanks to Jayden Daniels, but the Commanders do not have as complete of an offense as the Bears do and that should be the difference-maker in that contest.
The Week 6 trip to London to play the Jacksonville Jaguars could be tough since the Jags are expected to contend for the AFC South alongside the Texans.
That's a game the Bears are not expected to win, but if they somehow emerge with a victory, it would generate some early playoff buzz.
October Projected Record: 2-1
November
Week 9: at Arizona
Week 10: vs. New England
Week 11: vs. Green Bay
Week 12: vs. Minnesota
Week 13: at Detroit
The Bears' schedule really does not get difficult until Week 11, when the NFC North gauntlet comes into picture.
Chicago plays all three of its divisional rivals twice across the final eight weeks of the season.
Before that, the Bears should pick up wins over the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots, who fall into the same category as Carolina and Washington.
The Cardinals and Patriots just do not have deep enough offenses to compare to the Bears on paper.
As for the divisional games, the Bears need to win their home games and beat the Minnesota Vikings with Sam Darnold twice.
A 4-2 divisional record would help with the Bears' playoff chances. A wild-card berth should be in sight by the time Week 11 rolls around.
Jordan Love has a deep collection of pass-catchers to work with and a strong defense behind him, so it will be tough to beat the Packers at Soldier Field.
A loss to Detroit on Thanksgiving Day is already penciled in, so at minimum, the Bears need to beat Arizona, Minnesota and New England in November to keep up the early-season momentum.
November Projected Record: 3-2
December and January
Week 14: at San Francisco
Week 15: at Minnesota
Week 16: vs. Detroit
Week 17: vs. Seattle
Week 18: at Green Bay
The Bears' playoff quest could hit a wall in the final stretch of the regular season.
Losses are expected in San Francisco and Green Bay to book end the December-January stretch.
The Bears must beat Minnesota for a second time in Week 15, no matter how well Sam Darnold has played up to that moment.
A Week 17 home win over the Seattle Seahawks might decide the Bears' playoff hopes depending on how the wild-card race shakes out.
Seven wins in the first three months will put the Bears squarely in the wild-card conversation, but they may need 10 victories to feel secure about a playoff spot in the NFC.
A home win over the Lions is not expected, but that could be the one unexpected result that catapults the Bears over the rest of the wild-card contenders.
December/January Record Projection: 2-3
Overall Record Projection: 9-8