The Chicago Bears are 3-1 this season after losing to the Detroit Lions on Sunday and while the 40-32 loss wasn't devastating, it could be troubling for the team as they have a tough stretch of games coming up, starting with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints in Week 5.
The Bears were one of the teams coming into Week 4 at 3-0 and while Jay Cutler was playing very well through the first three games of the season, he was bound for a letdown and it gave new head coach Marc Trestman his first loss. Chicago played two close games to start the season against the Bengals and the Vikings, which came before they blew out Pittsburgh on Sunday night football.
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Cutler looked more comfortable in the offense than he had in years after Trestman retooled the offensive line, including with draft pick Kyle Long, who is setting himself up to be a rookie of the year candidate. Cutler was sacked more than any other quarterback through three games last season, but this year he ranked in the top part of the league through three games, although he was pressured too much on Sunday. Cutler has over 1,000 yards passing and eight touchdowns and he will be facing a much improved Saints secondary, which ranks fifth in the NFL with less than 200 passing yards allowed per game.
After the Saints game the Bears welcome the now 0-4 New York Giants and while that looks like a "gimme" game right now, a team that desperate can be a scary one to play. Beating New Orleans will be tough even with the game at home at Soldier Field and after hosting the Giants, the Bears will travel to the east coast to play the Washington Redskins. No game in the NFL is "easy", but after starting 3-1 the Bears have tough stretches the rest of the season, including after the bye in Week 8 when they play the Packers.
The Week 9 matchup will be the first NFC North game for the Packers after the loss to the Detroit Lions and it will be a Monday night football game in primetime on ESPN. The Lions will be at Soldier Field for a home game in Week 10 and then the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens will visit in Week 11. The Bears have a tough stretch to end the season with four road game in five weeks, including trips fo St. Louis and Minnesota in Weeks 12 and 13.
The Bears play a second Monday Night Football game in Week 14, but this time the game will be at Soldier Field and the Dallas Cowboys will be coming to town. After hosting Tony Romo and company, the Bears hit the road again for the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Green Bay Packers are waiting in Week 17 for a home game that could help decide the NFC North division.
