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Bears to open vs. Falcons, visit Packers on Christmas

Brad Biggs/Tribune reporter

4:57 p.m. CDT, April 19, 2011


In a year in which the Chicago Bears are scheduled to travel to London for their first-ever regular season game in Europe, the team has four consecutive games vs. AFC West opponents and closes with division rivals Green Bay and Minnesota.

The NFL will release the 2011 schedule at 6 p.m. but an advanced look at the schedule provided to the Tribune shows they open the season at Soldier Field Sept. 11 against the Atlanta Falcons in a matchup of division champions from last season. It marks only the fourth time in 12 years the Bears will open at home.

They will then travel to New Orleans in Week 2 and return home to host the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in Week 3. Former Bears linebacker and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera will bring in his Carolina Panthers for a visit in Week 4.

The Bears then play at Detroit on Monday, Oct. 10 on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” the first prime time appearance for the Lions since Week 3 of the 2001 season. That game is followed by another prime time appearance for the Bears as they will host Minnesota on Oct. 16 in NBC’s national broadcast. That gives the team a home game before the Oct. 23 game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Following the trip to England, the Bears are off on the weekend of Oct. 30. The Bears play the Eagles on “Monday Night Football” on Nov. 7. Then, they host the Lions Nov. 13 before a string of four straight games vs. the AFC – vs. San Diego, at Oakland, vs. Kansas City and at Denver in Week 14 in quarterback Jay Cutler’s first regular season game there since the trade.

The Bears host Seattle in Week 15 and close out at Green Bay on NBC in prime time on Dec. 25 and at Minnesota Jan. 1.

The NFL’s current labor dispute leaves football hanging in the balance. The league announced if an agreement is not reached by Aug. 1 the game in London will be moved to Tampa and the Bucs’ Raymond James Stadium.

Week 1 ATLANTA

Week 2 at New Orleans

Week 3 GREEN BAY

Week 4 CAROLINA

Week 5 at Detroit

Week 6 MINNESOTA

Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay at London

Week 8 OFF

Week 9 at Philadelphia

Week 10 Detroit

Week 11 SAN DIEGO

Week 12 at Oakland

Week 13 KANSAS CITY

Week 14 at Denver

Week 15 SEATTLE

Week 16 at Green Bay

Week 17 at Minnesota