The Bears on Thursday announced the dates and times for their four preseason games. The slate consists of three Thursday night contests and a Saturday matinee.

The Bears will open the preseason by hosting the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos Thursday, Aug. 11 at Soldier Field before visiting the Patriots in New England Thursday, Aug. 18. Both games begin at 7 p.m. (CT)

The Bears will then play a rare afternoon preseason game at noon on Saturday, Aug. 27 against the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field. It's their first preseason day game since they hosted the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 11, 1996.

The Bears will then close the preseason with their annual match-up against the Browns in Cleveland Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. The teams have met in the preseason finale every year since 2004, splitting the 12 meetings.