The 2024 NFL schedule release is less than a week away, but it’s never too early to break down what lies ahead for the revitalized Chicago Bears, who are looking for a bounce-back season in the NFC North.
If everything breaks right, the Bears could play against seven rookie or second-year quarterbacks. However, Chicago will also encounter its fair share of experienced heavy hitters.
With that in mind, here are the four toughest signal-callers the Bears will face in 2024.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers | Love more than impressed in his first season as the Packers’ starter, leading Green Bay to within a score of reaching the NFC Championship while finishing among the top 10 in yards (7th), QBR (9th) and trailing only Dak Prescott (36) for the league-lead in touchdown passes. The former first-round pick went 2-0 against the Bears in 2023 – making them the bookend of his breakout campaign – finishing 42-of-59 for 561 yards with 5 touchdowns and no interceptions in two meetings.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions | Goff struggled against the Bears last season, going 1-1 while finishing 33-of-70 for 397 yards with three touchdowns against five interceptions. As with Love, Chicago will match up twice against the three-time Pro Bowler, who finished fourth in the NFL in touchdown passes (30) and second in passing yards (4,575) while nearly leading Detroit to its first Super Bowl appearance in 2023.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams | In 2023, the 36-year-old Stafford proved why he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, finishing 11th in touchdown passes (24) and passing yards (3,965) with the sixth-best QBR (63.5) among starters despite beginning the season without Pro Bowl wideout Cooper Kupp. The ex-Lion has earned more victories against the Bears (12) than any other team over the course of his 15-year career.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans | Stroud became an immediate star last season, leading the Texans to a 9-6 finish and an AFC South title while posting 23 passing touchdowns (26 TDs total) and the eighth-most passing yards in the NFL (4,108), earning 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. While the former Ohio State standout isn’t going to sneak up on anyone this year, he’ll be even more difficult to contain after Houston added another weapon to his arsenal by trading for former All-Pro wideout Stefon Diggs during the offseason.