First place schedule

A lot of Chicago Bears fans are pointing out that the Bears will play a first place schedule this year, after playing a last place schedule in 2025. While this is true, I don't think people have really thought through what this actually means. Let's take a look at the opponents the first place Bears will face this upcoming season, and then we'll look at the opponents the last place Detroit Lions will see.

The Bears:

HOME
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars
New York Jets
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints

AWAY
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Seattle Seahawks

The Lions:

HOME
Chicago
Green Bay
Minnesota
New Orleans
Tampa Bay
New England
New York Jets
Tennessee
New York Giants

AWAY
Chicago
Green Bay
Minnesota
Atlanta
Buffalo
Carolina
Miami
Arizona

Both teams face the AFC East (4 games) and the NFC South (4 games). Both teams face the Vikings and Packers twice (4 games). Both teams face each other twice (2 games). Add those together and you get 14 games... leaving exactly three games.

The difference between a first place schedule and a last place schedule is three games. The Bears face the Eagles, the Seahawks and the Jaguars. The Lions face the Giants, the Titans and the Cardinals. So the next time someone brings up first place schedule or last place schedule, remember the difference is three lousy games. Not a huge difference in my opinion.