Chicago Bears 2012 Schedule: 5 Games You Can't Miss

There are 16 games of Bear football coming your way and you're going to try and catch every one, right?

But then some yahoo gets married on a Sunday (DURING FOOTBALL SEASON?) or you get sick or have to travel for work or your kid tries to fit a waffle in your DVR—something happens that causes you to decide whether or not you are going to miss a game.

Did that just send shudders down your spine too?

Here then are the five Bears games you cannot miss this season. Fake your death to avoid the wedding, take an early plane with Direct TV, head off to the bar—whatever it takes, you can't miss these.

Week 4: Bears Visit the Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys may not really be America's team anymore, but they still carry some weight. After last season's mess, they will come out firing and this Monday Night game looks to be a great chance for them to re-establish their credibility nationally.

Jason Witten, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin—that's a tremendous receiving corps right there and for all his faults, Tony Romo plays well before the playoffs. The Bears defense will have their hands full but bring their A game.

They have tried to improve the secondary and defense as well. They'll look to test the Bears' offensive line and Jay Cutler early, see if they can disrupt he and Brandon Marshall. We'll know by then if Matt Forte is holding out and how the split between he and Michael Bush will go.

This Monday Night Football game will be a good one and worth calling in sick or late the next morning.

Week 10: Houston Texans Head to Chicago

Last year was an unmitigated disaster from a health standpoint for both the Texans and the Bears.

Both healthy (we hope), they clash in Week 10.

Like the Dallas game, this is a great offense to watch. Arian Foster is a tremendous running back, Matt Schaub throws a good ball and Andre Johnson is one of the best players in the league. They'll try to wear the Bears defensive line down with the run and stretch the field with Johnson to test the secondary.

Meanwhile Jay Cutler and company get a unit which is going to look good for the second year in a row under Wade Phillips.

Another game under the lights, this is a Sunday Night game and another national clash of titans you won't want to miss.

Week 11: Bears Head to the Bay Area

The 49ers have an outstanding defense and some pieces in their offense which are tremendous.

Of course, the questions are major. Is Randy Moss going to look like old Moss or Old Moss? Can Alex Smith make magic a second year in a row? Will Frank Gore be healthy all year?

If the answers to most of those are yes, and I believe they will, this is going to be a big game. At this point, the season is ramping up into a playoff mode and as a fellow NFC denizen, the 49ers will want to secure a better playoff position than their NFC North counterpart.

The Bears defense will challenge Smith all day while the Niners defense will test the Bears' offensive line.

Yet another Monday Night game where you'll want to secure your favorite bar stool early and load up on wings.

Week 15: The Packers Arrive in Chi-Town

Does anyone in Chicago call it Chi-Town?

In all likelihood this will be a huge game with playoff implications across the board. We know these teams are not fond of each other and Soldier Field will be rocking with the Bear faithful.

If you can't be AT the game, you have to watch it in the loudest environment possible for full effect.

These are two teams who usually line up well with each other and play their best when it matters most. Cutler and Rodgers should have an epic battle of quarterbacks while the defenses will give no quarter.

This game could very well be flexed into an evening game if enough is on the line. Even if it isn't, it's bound to be one of the most tense and exciting games you will see this year.

Hide your kids, hide your wives...... everybody's scoring around here.

Week 17: Bears Travel to Detroit to End the Season

How could this list end any other way?

If all goes well, these two teams will be playing for a playoff spot at least, if not the division title.

Both teams have quarterbacks who can sling it and defenses who can bring it. If the Lions made it through the season with no major running back injuries, we could have two very good backfields to watch as well.

Everything could come down to this game, who is going to the playoffs, who gets a bye, who watches it all from the comfort of their couch and heads into the off-season early.

You've heard of something being a fun filled roller coaster of excitement? Of something being a battle between two Goliath?

This is a battle between two Goliaths on a fun filled roller coaster  of excitement while the coaster rockets towards the moon on Superman's back. In 3-d.

Yeah, it's going to be that epic.