Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (Getty)
With training camp right around the corner, preparations are almost underway for the 2015 NFL season. The preseason officially begins Sunday, August 9 with the Hall of Fame Game. Soon after, each of the 32 NFL teams will begin their four-game schedules.
The Chicago Bears begin training camp on July 30 (players report July 29) at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. The team is coming off a 5-11 season and have missed the playoffs four straight years. New head coach John Fox hopes to turn things around in the Windy City, starting with a defense that needs a complete overhaul.
The Bears will face four AFC teams in the preseason that they won’t encounter in the regular season.
Below is the preseason schedule. All times are Central.
Chicago Bears 2015 Preseason Schedule
(Getty)
Thursday, August 13 vs. Miami Dolphins (7 p.m.)
The preseason opener will take place at Solider field against the Miami Dolphins. With Ndamukong Suh and a rising Ryan Tannehill leading the way, many expect the Dolphins to compete for a playoff spot in 2015. The teams squared off in Week 8 last season with Miami pulling out a 27-14 win. The starting lineups will be on display for about a quarter before the backups play the majority of the contest.
Saturday, August 22 @ Indianapolis Colts (6:30 p.m.)
The Bears will get their second look at superstar quarterback Andrew Luck in this one. Luck’s first career start came in Chicago and it was an ugly one for the Stanford standout. He was 23 of 45 for 309 yards, but threw three interceptions and was sacked three times in a 41-21 loss. Now a top-five quarterback, Luck and the Colts starts may play between a quarter and two in this one.
Saturday, August 29 @ Cincinnati Bengals (6:30 p.m.)
Week 3 of the preseason is typically when teams play their starting lineups the longest. With a new coaching staff, any in-game reps will be seen as a positive. New offensive coordinator Adam Gase has been tasked with “fixing” embattled quarterback Jay Cutler. One of the most polarizing players in the league, Cutler threw for 3,812 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2014.
Thursday, September 3 vs. Cleveland Browns (7 p.m.)
This is the most important contest for backups looking to cement their place on the roster, which means we may see a lot of Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel in Chicago. The Browns signed Josh McCown — the Bears know a lot about him — to be their starter and he will likely be rested in this one.
Editor’s note: Football is around the corner, and Heavy’s partners at DraftKings have the best NFL and college contests. Sign up with DraftKings promo code HEAVY and get a $600 deposit bonus with no season-long commitment.
Comments