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Bears Wed Apr 15 2009
Footballic Ramblings: Bears '09 Schedule Released
It might be well-nigh impossible to think about --what with the MLB season just getting started and both the Bulls and Blackhawks in the NBA and NHL playoffs, respectively-- but the all-consuming juggernaut of American sports, the NFL, announced its 2009 schedule today, and the Chicago Bears made out like bandits.
Not only are the Bears featured in no fewer than five primetime nationally televised games, but! they're also facing eight teams that finished with sub .500 records a year ago.
The Bears' season opens on Sunday, September 13 in Green Bay, WI against the arch-rival Packers; who the Bears lost both games to last year for the first time since 2003. The following week the Bears host defending Super Bowl champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a matinee affair at Soldier Field and then face cupcakes, Detroit and Seattle to close out the first month of the season.
After their bye week the Bears travel to Atlanta for the NBC Sunday Night game where Offensive Rookie of the Year runner up/Bears running back, Matt Forte, will go head-to-head with Rookie of the Year/ATL QB, Matt Ryan.
Additional highlights and lowlights of the schedule include:
A home and home with the state of Ohio, wherein Chicago travels to Cincy to play the awful Bengals and then hosts the still worse Cleveland Browns the following week.
On November 8 the Bears will host the current NFC champion/Super Bowl runner up, Arizona Cardinals.
And just in case anyone had forgotten about the cloud of animosity and accusation that new Bear quarterback, Jay Cutler, left Denver under; the Bears visit the Mile-High City in a pre-season game on August 30.
So have faith, Bears/NFL fans; the journey to the regular season is long, but it has indeed begun in earnest!