Mark your calendars. The NFL on Wednesday announced that it will unveil its complete 2021 regular-season schedule on Wednesday, May 12.
The Bears are slated to play home-and-away games against the Packers, Vikings and Lions; host the Cardinals, 49ers, Ravens, Bengals and Giants; and visit the Seahawks, Rams, Browns, Steelers, Raiders and Buccaneers.
Last month NFL owners voted to expand the regular season from 16 to 17 games and reduce the preseason from four to three contests.
Every club will play its 17th game against a team from the other conference that finished in the same place in the standings the previous year, with the divisions rotating every season. In 2021, the NFC North will match up with the AFC West, meaning the Bears will visit the Raiders.
All AFC teams will host their NFC counterparts in odd-numbered years, while NFC clubs will host their AFC opponents in even years.
This is the first time the NFL schedule has changed since 1978, when it increased from 14 to 16 games. All NFL teams played 12 regular-season contests from 1947-60 and 14 games from 1961-77.
With the NFL expanding the regular-season schedule to 17 games, take a look at the Bears' finalized home and away matchups for the 2021 season.
Home vs. Arizona Cardinals
Last meeting in Chicago: Sept. 20, 2015
Score: Bears 23 - Cardinals 48
Home vs. San Francisco 49ers
Last meeting in Chicago: Dec. 3, 2017
Score: Bears 14 - 49ers 15
Home vs. Baltimore Ravens
Last meeting in Chicago: Nov. 17, 2013
Score: Bears 23 - Ravens 20
Home vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Last meeting in Chicago: Sept. 8, 2013
Score: Bears 24 - Bengals 21
Home vs. New York Giants
Last meeting in Chicago: Sept. 20, 2020
Score: Bears 17 - Giants 13
Home vs. Detroit Lions
Last meeting in Chicago: Dec. 6, 2020
Score: Bears 30 - Lions 34
Home vs. Minnesota Vikings
Last meeting in Chicago: Nov. 16, 2020
Score: Bears 13 - Vikings 19
Home vs. Green Bay Packers
Last meeting in Chicago: Jan. 3, 2021
Score: Bears 16 - Packers 35
Away vs. Los Angeles Rams
Last meeting in Los Angeles: Oct. 26, 2020
Score: Bears 10 - Rams 24
Away vs. Seattle Seahawks
Last meeting in Seattle: Sept. 27, 2015
Score: Bears 0 - Seahawks 26
Away vs. Cleveland Browns
Last meeting in Cleveland: Dec. 15, 2013
Score: Bears 38 - Browns 31
Away vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last meeting in Pittsburgh: Sept. 22, 2013
Score: Bears 40 - Steelers 23
Away vs.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last meeting in Tampa: Sept. 17, 2017
Score: Bears 7 - Buccaneers 29
Away vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Last meeting at Raiders: Oct. 6, 2019 (London)
Score: Bears 21 - Raiders 24
Away vs. Detroit Lions
Last meeting in Detroit: Sept. 13, 2020
Score: Bears 27 - Lions 23
Away vs. Minnesota Vikings
Last meeting in Minnesota: Dec. 20, 2020
Score: Bears 33 - Vikings 27
Away vs. Green Bay Packers
Last meeting in Green Bay: Nov. 29, 2020
Score: Bears 25 - Packers 41
