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          NFL Nation

          Chicago Bears' schedule includes four prime-time games

          Jay Cutler and the Bears hope to bounce back after a 6-10 season a year ago. AP Photo/Tony Avelar
          • Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff WriterApr 15, 2016, 12:35 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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          Breakdown: As opposed to their vicious three-game stretch to begin 2015 (Green Bay, Arizona and Seattle), the Chicago Bears play just one playoff team (Houston) over the opening six weeks. The Bears do have to endure a pair of tricky prime-time road contests (Dallas and Green Bay) on a short week, but Chicago does have extra time to prepare for an important Monday night home game against Minnesota on Oct. 31. The Bears also host the Eagles on Monday night in Week 2. After their bye week -- which occurs at the exact midway point of the season -- the Bears face Tampa Bay, the New York Giants, Tennessee and San Francisco in consecutive weeks. There is no reason the Bears cannot win three of those four games. The Bears close out the year with matchups against Green Bay, Washington and Minnesota, which may determine if Chicago qualifies for the postseason in Year 2 under John Fox.

          Complaint department: Finishing out the year with Green Bay (home), Washington (home) and Minnesota (road) is a bit harsh, but two of the three will be played in Chicago. There is additionally the issue of traveling to Lambeau Field on Thursday night (Oct. 20), following a Sunday home game versus Jacksonville. With so much at stake every time the Bears play the Packers, it would’ve helped the Bears (who no doubt will be the underdogs that night) to have a full week to get ready for Aaron Rodgers & Co. But there are very few complaints from a scheduling perspective this year.

          Hello, stranger: Fox cannot escape Brock Osweiler, and that could be a positive for Chicago. The 6-foot-7 quarterback, formerly of the Denver Broncos, defeated Fox and the Bears last year at Soldier Field in his first career NFL start in place of then-injured Peyton Manning. Having moved on to Houston in the offseason, Osweiler is expected to face his former coach, again, down in Houston during Week 1. Don’t expect history to repeat itself. This is lucky break for Fox, who by now, should know the entire book on Osweiler, who received $37 million guaranteed to jump ship to the Texans.

          Strength of schedule: T-30th, .461

          Bears Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

          • Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11, at Houston, 1 p.m.

          • Week 2: Monday, Sept. 19, Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, Detroit, 1 p.m.

          • Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

          • Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

          • Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 20, at Green Bay, 8:25 p.m.

          • Week 8: Monday, Oct. 31, Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 9: BYE

          • Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

          • Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, at NY Giants, 1 p.m.

          • Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, Tennessee, 1 p.m.

          • Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, San Francisco, 1 p.m.

          • Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, at Detroit, 1 p.m.

          • Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18, Green Bay, 1 p.m.

          • Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, Washington, 1 p.m.

          • Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at Minnesota, 1 p.m.