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          NFL Nation

          Resurgent Chicago Bears face challenging final month of schedule

          Khalil Mack and the Bears will open the season for a second straight time against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports
          • Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff WriterApr 18, 2019, 12:27 AM
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              Dickerson covers the Chicago Bears for ESPN's NFL Nation. He is the co-host of "Dickerson & Hood" on the ESPN Radio national network, and is heard in Chicago on ESPN 1000.
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          The NFL has released its 2019 regular-season schedule. Here’s a look at what’s in store for the Chicago Bears.

          Game-by-game prediction

          Bears reporter Jeff Dickerson is predicting a 10-6 finish:

          Sept. 5: vs. Packers, Win

          Sept. 15: at Broncos, Loss

          Sept. 23: at Redskins, Win

          Sept. 29: vs. Vikings, Win

          Oct. 6: vs. Raiders (LONDON), Win

          Oct. 20: vs. Saints, Loss

          Oct. 27: vs. Chargers, Win

          Nov. 3: at Eagles, Loss

          Nov. 10: vs. Lions, Win

          Nov. 17: at Rams, Loss

          Nov. 24: vs. Giants, Win

          Nov. 28: at Lions, Win

          Dec. 5:vs. Cowboys, Win

          Dec. 15: at Packers, Loss

          Dec. 22: vs. Chiefs, Loss

          Dec. 29: at Vikings, Win

          strength of schedule: .520 (T-fifth)

          Breakdown

          The Bears are now the hunted. Following a surprise playoff berth (12-4) last season, the Bears face a much tougher schedule in head coach Matt Nagy’s second season. Chicago’s schedule really picks up steam in Week 7 with three consecutive games against the Saints, Chargers and Eagles -- all playoff teams in 2018. Throw in a tough road game against the defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams in Week 11, plus a final four-game stretch that features home contests against the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs and divisional road games at the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, and the Bears certainly have their hands full. The last time the Bears repeated as NFC North champions was in 2005-06.

          Prime-time Bears

          The Bears were often an afterthought under former head coaches Marc Trestman and John Fox, but Chicago grabbed national attention last year in Nagy’s first season. After reaching the playoffs, the Bears were rewarded with six national games in 2019, including marquee matchups with Green Bay (the NFL’s Thursday night regular-season opener), the Rams, Cowboys and Chiefs, where Nagy will square off against his former boss, Andy Reid. The Bears also travel to Washington for a Monday Night game in Week 3, and play another Thanksgiving game in Detroit.

          London calling

          The Bears travel overseas to face the Oakland Raiders in Week 5 at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London -- the first NFL game to be played at the stadium. Chicago last visited London in 2011 when it defeated Tampa 24-18 at Wembley Stadium. The Bears are 2-0 in regular-season games played outside the United States. Chicago also faced the Bills in Canada during the 2010 season.