CHICAGO -- The Bears' 2024 schedule was released Wednesday, along with the rest of the NFL slate.
The Caleb Williams era kicks off in Chicago on Sept. 8 when the Bears host the Tennessee Titans in conjunction with the 100-year anniversary of Soldier Field.
The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft will go head-to-head with six of the NFL's youngest quarterbacks in the first 10 weeks of the season, including a highly anticipated matchup with Jayden Daniels, this year's No. 2 pick, when Chicago plays at the Washington Commanders in Week 8. Two weeks later, the Bears will host Drake Maye, the draft's third pick, and the New England Patriots.
The 2024 season also features Chicago's first international trip in five years when the Bears host the Jacksonville Jaguars in what will be deemed a home game played at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 13.
Here is what's in store for the Bears:
Bears 2024 regular-season schedule
Week 1: Sept. 8 vs. Tennessee
Week 2: Sept. 15 at Houston (SNF)
Week 3: Sept. 22 at Indianapolis
Week 4: Sept. 29 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 5: Oct. 6 vs. Carolina
Week 6: Oct. 13 vs. Jacksonville (in London)
Week 7: Bye week
Week 8: Oct. 27 at Washington
Week 9: Nov. 3 at Arizona
Week 10: Nov. 10 vs. New England
Week 11: Nov. 17 vs. Green Bay
Week 12: Nov. 24 vs. Minnesota
Week 13: Nov. 28 at Detroit (Thanksgiving)
Week 14: Dec. 8 at San Francisco
Week 15: Dec.16 at Minnesota (MNF)
Week 16: Dec. 22 vs. Detroit
Week 17: Dec. 26 vs. Seattle (TNF)
Week 18: Jan. 5 at Green Bay
Strength of schedule: The Bears are tied for the league's third-easiest schedule, as their opponents had a .467 win percentage last season.
Over/under: 8.5 wins
Biggest takeaway
It's highly unusual for the Bears to begin division play as late as Week 11 after opening the season against an NFC North opponent five times since 2015. Six of Chicago's final eight games are against division rivals, beginning with stretch against Green Bay and Minnesota (both at home) followed by a Thanksgiving Day showdown at Detroit taking place in Weeks 11 through 13. The Bears haven't finished better than 2-4 in NFC North games since 2019. They once again close the regular season at Green Bay, where they were unable to keep the Packers from clinching a spot in the playoffs in January.
Revenge game
New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron faces his former team, the Seahawks, on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 17. Waldron was Seattle's O-coordinator from 2021 to 2023, and he brought three former Seattle coaches with him -- Kerry Joseph (quarterbacks), Chad Morton (running backs) and Robbie Picazo (offensive assistant). Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith had a career-best season under Waldron in 2022 when he led the league in completion rate (69.8%) and won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Bold prediction
This shouldn't be bold, but considering the Bears haven't beaten the Packers since their first meeting of the 2018 campaign, predicting a Chicago win against Green Bay qualifies. And why not take it a step further? The Bears take advantage of their strength of schedule, grab wins on the road at Indianapolis, Washington, Detroit and Minnesota then finish with a 10-7 record and trip to the playoffs.