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How NFL put Bears’ 2024 schedule together for Caleb Williams’ rookie season originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Bears will enter the 2024 season as one of the most exciting teams in the NFL, thanks to No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the host of improvements general manager Ryan Poles made this offseason.
But despite the anticipation for what could be the start of a new era in Chicago, the NFL opted only to give the Bears three primetime games and only one before Week 15. They play on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 2 against the Houston Texans and don’t return to the primetime window until being part of a Week 15 “Monday Night Football” doubleheader in which they play the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears will play their “Thursday Night Football” game in Week 17 against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bears also have two standalone games that aren’t in primetime. They play in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6 at 8:30 a.m. CT and will visit the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.
Last season, the Bears had four primetime games and were featured in the 3:25 slot four times. This season, they are only slated to be in that slot once during Week 14 against the San Francisco 49ers.
So, what’s the reason for the lack of marquee games for the young, up-and-coming Bears?
NFL Director of Broadcasting Charlotte Carey explained how the Bears’ schedule came together on “Up and Adams” after the slate was released Wednesday.
“A few years ago, the schedule came out before the draft so we didn’t even have those draft stories or pieces to put the puzzle together to actually be able to react afterward,” Carey said. “Now we have that time. A team like the Bears is so exciting now post-draft, and they were an exciting team at the end of last year, too.
“This is a team that we are really counting on. You’ll see, as you said, a decent amount of primetime there. But also, we’re using them strategically across our 1 o’clock windows, where they can anchor and help in certain…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-put-bears-2024-schedule-170433823.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-05-17 17:04:33
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