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Bears' Mitchell Trubisky tested early by Packers, Seahawks

Matt Nagy takes over a Bears team that hasn't been to the playoffs since the 2010 season. Kamil Krzaczynski/USA Today Sports

The NFL has released its 2018 regular-season schedule. Here's a look at what's in store for the Chicago Bears.

Breakdown: Second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s anticipated debut in Matt Nagy’s offense takes place in prime time Week 1 at Lambeau Field. How’s that for pressure? The Bears have won only twice in Green Bay since 2008. Chicago does hit a soft spot in the schedule after Week 2’s Monday night matchup versus Seattle, with winnable games against Arizona, Tampa and Miami before New England invades Solider Field in Week 7. Trubisky against Jared Goff will be an attractive storyline when the Rams visit Chicago in Week 14, but the Bears' season hinges on their competitiveness in the NFC North. The division is loaded with a healthy Aaron Rodgers, and now Kirk Cousins in Minnesota.

Quarterback club: Trubisky and Goff have more in common than just being former top-two draft picks. The young quarterbacks are both represented by the same agency and they train together in the offseason in California. The Bears are hopeful that Trubisky can make the same kind of jump that Goff and Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz each had in their respective second NFL season. The Bears' home game versus the Rams in early December also pits Nagy against rising star Sean McVay, who’s become the gold standard for how all first-year head coaches will be judged in 2018.

Robbie’s revenge, Part 2? Former Bears kicker Robbie Gould -- Chicago’s all-time leading scorer -- embarrassed his old team by kicking five field goals (including the game-winner) in San Francisco’s 15-14 victory at Soldier Field last season. What will Gould do for an encore when the 49ers host the Bears in Week 16? And how will Trubisky and Nagy fare against San Francisco’s exciting quarterback/head coach combo in Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan? There are endless angles to this game for the Bears, who will likely be playing out the string this late in the season.

Strength of schedule: T-8th, .520

Bears' Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

  • Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m.

  • Week 2: Monday, Sept. 17, Seattle, 8:15 p.m.

  • Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.

  • Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

  • Week 5: BYE

  • Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Miami, 1 p.m.

  • Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, New England, 1 p.m.

  • Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, NY Jets, 1 p.m.

  • Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Buffalo, 1 p.m.

  • Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, Detroit, 1 p.m.

  • Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, Minnesota, 1 p.m.

  • Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 22, at Detroit, 12:30 p.m.

  • Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at NY Giants, 1 p.m.

  • Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m.

  • Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, Green Bay, 1 p.m.

  • Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

  • Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, at Minnesota, 1 p.m.