There's bold takes, and there's whatever ESPN's Jeremy Fowler just unleased with his latest NFL schedule release takeaways.
Fowler picked out a few potential overreactions from this year's release, and he honed in heavily on the NFC North - specifically, he called out the Chicago Bears as a perfect candidate for major regression in 2026, while also propping up the Lions as this year's New England Patriots (a team with an easy schedule and talent that far exceeds their opponents).
Fowler said of that potential regression from Chicago, which he predicts could lead to them missing the postseason altogether:
"The division and the schedule look tough enough that it wouldn't be a surprise if the Bears take a step back -- albeit a temporary one -- in 2026. Remember how we all felt about the Commanders this time last year? Progress is not always linear, and the 5-12 Commanders of 2025 are a testament to that after they reached the NFC Championship Game in quarterback Jayden Daniels' 2024 rookie season."
As for the Lions, Fowler wrote that their easier schedule should help them towards their renewed goal of not only reaching the playoffs, but getting to the Super Bowl.
"The Lions, who were in the NFC Championship Game three seasons ago and the NFC's No. 1 seed two seasons ago, finished 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs. They have the seventh-easiest schedule based on teams' 2025 records, making them an easy candidate for this."
Fowler's predictions should get Lions fans excited for 2026 season
Remember how tiring it was for the Lions to not only play on Thanksgiving, as is tradition, but to then go lose against the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas day, as well? It was a nightmare of a holiday schedule, and one that players were really not a fan of to begin with.
Detroit doesn't have to repeat that cycle in 2026, thankfully, as they're only slated for a Thanksgiving day bout against the Bears. The Bears, on the other hand, are now suffering from success - they'll be suiting up for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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Chicago also has the toughest schedule in the NFC North this year, whereas Detroit's has the easiest path towards reclaiming the divisional title. They do have an unbelievably tough end to their year, with three road games against the Minnesota Vikings, Bears, and Green Bay Packers, but the dream is that the Lions are already so far ahead of their competition by then that those games don't even matter.
The Lions' games against the NFC North, as well as their few games against contenders like the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, the New England Patriots in Munich in Week 10, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11, should be big tests against their own ability to contend. Wins in most of these contests - or, let's say all of them - could make Fowler's bold take go from unbelievable to completely achievable.
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