LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Last year’s Super Bowl run will keep the Bears in the prime-time spotlight for much of the 2007 season.

The NFL schedule, which was released Tuesday, has the defending NFC champions slated to play five night games, four on the road. They’ll play three contests on Sunday Night Football, hosting the Dallas Cowboys Sept. 23 before visiting the Green Bay Packers Oct. 7 and the Seattle Seahawks Nov. 18.

All-Pro phenom Devin Hester scored four of his six TDs in the Bears' five prime-time games in 2006.

The Bears will play back-to-back prime-time road games late in the season, visiting the Washington Redskins on Thursday, Dec. 6 on NFL Network before making their lone Monday Night Football appearance of the year at the Minnesota Vikings Dec. 17.

“That’s exciting to be able to play in front of a national TV audience,” said coach Lovie Smith, who led the Bears to a 4-1 record in prime-time games in 2006.

“If you’re a good football team, you have to be able to win on the road and we’ve had success in the past with that. We would like to play 16 games at home, but you have to play on the road, so you might as well play in front of a national TV audience.” 

The Bears’ four prime-time games on Sunday and Thursday will begin at 7:15 p.m. (CT) with the Monday night contest at Minnesota set to kick off at 7:30 p.m.

The Bears already knew that they would begin the season on the road Sept. 9 against the San Diego Chargers (3:15 p.m.). The home opener comes a week later versus the Kansas City Chiefs (3:15 p.m.), followed by the prime-time affair against the Cowboys.

Then comes a tough four-game stretch at Detroit Sept. 30 (noon), at Green Bay Sunday night Oct. 7, at home against Minnesota Oct. 14 (noon) and at Philadelphia Oct. 21 (3:15 p.m.).

“Three out of the four games on the road; that gets your attention a little bit,” Smith said.

The Bears will return home to host Detroit Oct. 28 (noon) in advance of their bye week, which precedes another difficult three-game stretch against AFC West opponents.

Chicago makes back-to-back West Coast road trips to face the Oakland Raiders Nov. 11 (3:15 p.m.) and the Seahawks Nov. 18 on Sunday Night Football before hosting the Denver Broncos Nov. 25 (noon).

After a home game against the New York Giants Dec. 2 (3:15 p.m.), the Bears will play back-to-back prime-time road contests versus the Redskins and Vikings. Chicago then closes the regular season by hosting the Packers Dec. 23 (noon) and the New Orleans Saints Dec. 30 (noon).

As part of the NFL’s flexible scheduling plan, the Bears’ late-season games against the Broncos, Giants, Packers and Saints are eligible to be moved to prime-time. Likewise, the Sunday night contest at Seattle could be moved back to 3:15 p.m.

In 2007, the Bears will play their final three road games at night, make three West Coast trips and play just one of eight away games at noon Chicago time. But you won’t hear Smith complaining about the schedule.

“There are a couple tough stretches we have on there, but it’s always like that,” he said. “We have a good football team coming back. We have tough opponents we’re going to play. We play the hand that we’ve been dealt and we’re excited about the schedule.”

Dates and times have also been set for the Bears’ preseason schedule. Chicago will visit the Houston Texans on Saturday, Aug. 11 and the Indianapolis Colts Aug. 20 on Monday Night Football before hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 25 and the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, Aug. 30. All four preseason games begin at 7 p.m. (CT).