NFL puts Bears in five prime time games
A disappointing 7-9 record in 2007 didn't dissuade the NFL's schedule-makers from prominently featuring the Bears in prime time throughout the 2008 season.
The NFC North cellar dwellers are slated for five night games, including three at Soldier Field. Their other 11 games are all scheduled to start at noon Chicago time. The Bears are scheduled to play night games in three of four weeks near the end of the season, between Nov. 30-Dec. 22.
The Bears' previously announced season opener on Sept. 7, a Sunday-night game against the Colts, will be the first regular-season game at Indianapolis' new Lucas Oil Stadium. That will be followed by prime-time appearances at home on Sunday night, Sept. 28, against the Philadelphia Eagles; Thursday night, Dec. 11, against the New Orleans Saints; and on Monday night, Dec. 22, against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears play the Vikings at Minnesota on Sunday night, Nov. 30.
The Monday night home game is a rarity in Chicago. Over the past 12 seasons, just one of their 10 Monday night games has been played at Soldier Field.
"We are excited to have five prime-time appearances," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "Most important, three of those games will be at home in front of our fans. Our national games have been on the road the past few seasons. This will be a showcase year for the great home-field advantage we have in Chicago."
Not so advantageous for the Bears is an early schedule that has them playing four of their first six games on the road. They also play three straight games on the road in the second half of November, but enjoy three straight home games on two separate occasions.
They haven't played three straight at home since 2001, when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns in overtime before losing to the Packers. The Bears played three straight road games in 2006, defeating the New York Giants and New York Jets before losing to the New England Patriots.
This year's season opener is followed by a road game vs. the Carolina Panthers. The home opener against the Bucs is Sept. 21, and the Eagles come to town the following Sunday. Back-to-back road games against the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons are next.
After that, the Bears go more than a month without leaving home. They play the Vikings at home on Oct. 19, then have their open date the next week, followed by home games against the Lions and Tennessee Titans. Three consecutive road games follow; against the Packers, St. Louis Rams and Vikings. But another three straight home games await -- against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saints and Packers -- giving the Bears the home-field advantage in six of nine games down the stretch before they finish the season in Houston against the Texans on Dec. 28.
Bears 2008 schedule
(Home games in CAPS)
Preseason games
Thursday, Aug. 7 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 16 at Seattle Seahawks 8 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 21 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 7 p.m. FOX
Thursday, Aug. 28 at Cleveland Browns 6:30 p.m.
Regular season games
Sunday, Sept. 7 at Indianapolis Colts 7:15 p.m. NBC
Sunday, Sept. 14 at Carolina Panthers noon FOX
Sunday, Sept. 21 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS noon FOX
Sunday, Sept. 28 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 7:15 p.m. NBC
Sunday, Oct. 5 at Detroit Lions noon FOX
Sunday, Oct. 12 at Atlanta Falcons noon FOX
Sunday, Oct. 19 MINNESOTA VIKINGS noon FOX
Sunday, Oct. 26 Bye Week
Sunday, Nov. 2 DETROIT LIONS noon FOX
Sunday, Nov. 9 TENNESSEE TITANS noon CBS
Sunday, Nov. 16 at Green Bay Packers noon* FOX
Sunday, Nov. 23 at St. Louis Rams noon* FOX
Sunday, Nov. 30 at Minnesota Vikings 7:15 p.m.** NBC
Sunday, Dec. 7 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS noon* CBS
Thursday, Dec. 11 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 7:15 p.m. NFLN
Monday, Dec. 22 GREEN BAY PACKERS 7:30 p.m. ESPN
Sunday, Dec. 28 at Houston Texans noon* FOX
* Denotes game times tentative and subject to flexible schedule
** Denotes Sunday night game could be moved back to noon or 3:15 p.m.