Chicago Bears Get Major 2026 Schedule Break While Lions, Vikings Face Travel Tests
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- The Chicago Bears will travel the third-fewest air miles in the 2026 NFL season, avoiding international games unlike division rivals Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, who will play in Germany and Mexico City respectively.
- Reduced travel demands provide the Bears with greater schedule consistency, benefiting their relatively young roster by minimizing disruptions to sleep, recovery, and preparation routines.
- Avoiding international travel could help Bears rookies like Colston Loveland and Luther Burden better manage the physical grind of a full NFL season, potentially mitigating the impact of the "rookie wall."
- This travel advantage may contribute to fresher players late in the season, giving Chicago a competitive edge during critical playoff races compared to teams facing additional recovery challenges.
- While not headline-grabbing, the Bears' stable schedule is viewed as a significant offseason win that could support their goal of meaningful improvement in 2026.