2023 schedule: Bears to play in 4 prime-time games

The 2023 NFL schedule is officially out and fans of the Chicago Bears finally know when and where the team will play this fall. The Bears released their schedule on Thursday evening and it features plenty of high-profile matchups from the NFC and AFC. Four of those games are set to be featured in prime time, with the potential for more.

Here is a quick breakdown of the Bears’ prime-time matchups that are solidified for the 2023 season.

Week 5: Bears at Commanders

Oct 13, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) passes against the Washington Commanders during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

• Thursday, October 5
• 7:15 p.m. CT
• Amazon Prime

Last year’s Thursday Night Football matchup between the Bears and the Washington Commanders got greenlit for a sequel. The two teams will once again faceoff in prime time on Amazon Prime for a second year in a row, only this time in Washington D.C. The Bears fell to the Commanders 13-7 in a dreadful game for both sides. We’ll see if the orange uniforms make a return for this game as well.

Week 8: Bears at Chargers

Sep 20, 2020; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton talks to Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) before he takes the field for the first time in an NFL game. The Chargers were playing the Kansas City Chiefs at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

• Sunday, October 29
• 7:20 p.m. CT
• NBC

A Bears prime-time date with the Los Angeles Chargers was one of our predictions earlier in the week and now it comes to fruition. The Bears will take on a Chargers team coming off a playoff berth that will be looking to remain squarely in the playoff picture once again. Justin Fields and Justin Herbert will battle it out for the first time and it will also be a reunion of sorts for two notable defensive players. Defensive end Khalil Mack will face off against his former team for the first time since he was traded away last offseason while defensive tackle Justin Jones gets to do the same after he signed with the Bears in 2022.

Week 10: Bears vs. Panthers

Oct 18, 2020; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (11) catches a pass as Carolina Panthers strong safety Juston Burris (31) defends in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

• Thursday, November 9
• 7:15 p.m. CT
• Amazon Prime

Another matchup that we predicted would make its way to prime time, the Bears welcome the Carolina Panthers to town for their second Thursday Night Football game of the season. Seeing as this takes place in November, it’s likely Bryce Young will have taken over as the starting quarterback by then for Carolina. These two teams created one of the biggest storylines this offseason when the Panthers acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Bears to select Young. It will also be an opportunity for revenge as D.J. Moore, who was part of the trade to Chicago, to face his former team.

Week 12: Bears at Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 09: Cole Kmet #85 of the Chicago Bears celebrates a first down against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

• Monday, November 27
• 7:15 p.m. CT
• ESPN

The Bears will face one division opponent on prime time this season and that’s the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. These two teams are no strangers to meeting up on Monday nights as this will be their fifth matchup in eight years. It hasn’t been kind to the Bears, though. Chicago has lost the last three Monday matchups and will want to snap that skid come late November. Minnesota, meanwhile, is coming off a division title and will be looking to stay in the hunt after the Thanksgiving holiday.