Chicago Bears 2011 Schedule: Key Questions for All 16 Games

The Chicago Bears 2011 schedule is out, and from an initial glance it looks brutal. In just the first three games, Chicago has to play a reigning regular season champion, a one-year removed Super Bowl champion and the reigning Super Bowl champions!

The Bears finished the 2010 season with an 11-5 record and a NFC North title. There were highs (Devin Hester breaking the all-time return record) and there were lows (getting manhandled by the Patriots, 36-7, in a must-win home game), but what Chicago fan honestly thought they'd make it to the NFC Championship game?

That's just one of the questions in the minds of Chicago Bears fans as they eagerly await the start of the season, whenever it might be. Here are the rest.

Week 1: Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons (September 11)

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 18: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons against the Chicago Bears at Georgia Dome on October 18, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Will they even play this game? With the players locked out indefinitely, there's a strong chance that we will miss the start of the regular season. If that happens, non-division games early in the season will be the first ones to be cut.

Week 2: Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints (September 18)

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CHICAGO - DECEMBER 11: Lance Moore #16 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball against Tommie Harris #91 and Lance Briggs #55 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 11, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Saints have one of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL and enough offensive weapons to make the President jealous. Do the Bears have enough firepower to hang with them?

Week 3: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers (September 25)

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Bears played the Packers in the third week last season and escaped with a narrow 20-17 win after Green Bay was called for a team record 18 penalties. Will that happen again? Or will Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews keep the offense and defense, respectively, in order?

Week 4: Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers (October 2)

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Cam Newton passes the ball during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Will we see Cam Newton? The Panthers own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and by all accounts they have zeroed in on the Heisman Trophy winner and former Auburn star. Newton isn't NFL-ready, but Carolina has nothing to lose by seeing what he can do against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Week 5: Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions (October 10)

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DETROIT - JANUARY 3: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball during the game against the Chicago Bears on January 3, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Who's on Calvin Johnson? The Lions star wide receiver had a quiet game (four receptions, 45 yards) to open the 2010 season against Chicago, but he just missed scoring a game-winning touchdown to upset the Bears. Will Lovie Smith double, or even triple, team Johnson to deny him the ball? Will it work?  

Week 6: Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings (October 16)

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball against Madieu Williams #20 of the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium on December 20, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Who's at quarterback? With Brett Favre finally retired (hopefully), the Vikings are left with the three stooges at quarterback: Joe Webb, Patrick Ramsey and Rhett Bomar (plus whoever they pick up in the 2011 NFL Draft). None of them are good enough to deal with the Bears' blitz, so will Julius Peppers and Co. make someone cry? 

Week 7: Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Bucanneers (October 23 in London)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Wes Welker (#83) of the New England Patriots is tackled by Adam Hayward (#57) of Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL International Series match between New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium on Octo

Will the Bucs exchange their pads and helmets for soccer balls? The last time Tampa Bay played in London they got steamrolled by the New England Patriots, 56-0. They almost definitely would have been better off playing football instead of football. If they lose like that again, should they even be allowed back into America?

Week 8: Bye

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the media during the NFL Annual Meetings at the Roosevelt Hotel on March 21, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Despite a NFL owners imposed lockout in effect since March 12 the league is c

Will we have played a football game yet? Some NFL insiders think it'll take until about the midway point of the season for the two sides to finally come to an agreement. Could the Bears be spending their bye week getting ready for the first week of a shortened regular season?

Week 9: Chicago Bears @ Philadelphia Eagles (November 7)

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs to avoid Anthony Adams #95 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Eagles 31-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Will the Bears stop Michael Vick again? The Eagles quarterback was well on his way to an MVP season until he came to Soldier Field last November and threw his first interception of the season in a losing effort. Can the Chicago defense contain the dual threat, and can Jay Cutler throw for four touchdowns again? Ever?

Week 10: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions (November 13)

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DETROIT - DECEMBER 05: Brandon Manumaleuna #86 of the Chicago Bears runs for a first down as Julian Peterson #98 of the Detroit Lions makes the tackle during the game at Ford Field on December 5, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. The Bears defeated the Lions 24

Will the Lions put up a fight? Detroit had a chance to win both of its games last season against the Bears, but couldn't quite seal the win (looking at you Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh) and lost by a combined nine points. Will they have enough experience to topple their division rival? 

Week 11: Chicago Bears vs. San Diego Chargers (November 20)

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CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers is dejected after throwing an interception during the Chargers 34-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (P

The Chargers are the ultimate trick-or-treat team. One week they're pounding the Indianapolis Colts, 36-14, and then the next week they get humiliated by the Oakland Raiders, 28-13. (Yes, that actually happened in consecutive games). Which San Diego team will show up to Soldier Field this time?

Week 12: Chicago Bears at Oakland Raiders (November 27)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Jason Campbell #8 of the Oakland Raiders drops back to pass in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tim Umphrey/Getty Images)

Can the Raiders win a game outside of their division? Oakland went 6-0 against their AFC West rivals last season but only won two games against the rest of the league (St. Louis and Seattle). The Raiders will have home-field advantage in this game, but can new head coach Hue Jackson get his team over the hump and into the playoff picture?

Also, what's for dinner? I'm getting hungry.

Week 13: Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs (December 4)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 26: Brandon Flowers #24 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action during the game against the Tennessee Titans on December 26, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Are the Chiefs for real? They won a crappy division and then got spanked in the playoffs because Matt Cassell couldn't throw the ball. The Bears feast on one-dimensional teams and Kansas City certainly qualifies after finishing the 2010 regular season ranked first in the NFL in rushing and 30th in passing.

Week 14: Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos (December 11)

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears looks on while taking on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Will Jay Cutler pee his pants in his return to Denver? Will he overdose on steroids and amphetamines? Will he give Tim Tebow a man hug? Will he play pantsless? Anything is possible when you put one of the most egotistical players in the NFL into one of the league's loudest stadiums.  

Week 15: Chicago Bears vs. Seattle Seahawks (December 18)

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears returns a kick against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Will the Seahawks become the Icehawks? Warm weather teams don't tend to do well once it starts snowing, and the ground at Soldier Field should be rock hard by this point in the season. Last time Seattle came to Chicago they got destroyed, 35-24, in the second round of the playoffs.

Week 16: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (December 25)

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: James Starks #44 of the Green Bay Packers runs the ball as he makes a move on Lance Briggs #55 of the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Dani

Who's been good and who's been naughty? This Christmas Day game will likely determine who walks away with the NFC North title, and these are two very mean and talented teams. Is Santa feeling green and yellow, or blue and orange?

Week 17: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (January 1)

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Chester Taylor #29 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball against Chad Greenway #52 of the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium on December 20, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Will it really be a happy new year? The Bears might need to win this game to clinch a playoff berth, while the Vikings might need to lose this game to guarantee a top-five selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. Will Adrian Peterson even play or will he be at Favre's ranch begging his former teammate to come back in 2012? Will Minnesota's stadium roof collapse again? Will the country even care?

Playoffs

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: A member of the Chicago Bears field team waves a Bears flag as the before the Bears take on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/

Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?! WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THERE BEING PLAYOFFS? We'd be lucky to even have a regular season! How about instead of the traditional format, we just play an All-Star game between the players and the owners? Winner gets $9 billion. I know Peyton Manning's in. What do you say, Jerry Jones?