Bears could flirt with dubious NFL mark if home futility continues in 2023

The Edmonton Elks recently set the CFL record for consecutive losses at home with 19, but could the NFL mark be threatened this season? The Chicago Bears hope not. 

The Bears still have a ways to go to equal the NFL record of 14 straight home losses, shared by the Dallas Cowboys (1988-1989) and St. Louis Rams (2008-2010). However, entering the 2023 campaign, having lost seven in a row at Soldier Field, the Bears are halfway there. And if their struggles continue, they could easily find themselves on the doorstep of a dubious record. 

Only the Arizona Cardinals (1-8) and Houston Texans (0-7-1) finished with a worse home record than the Bears (2-7) last season. Luckily for the Bears, though, they should have plenty of opportunities to snap their losing streak this year. 

Chicago's home opponents went 21-45 on the road in 2022 and only the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings (5-3) finished with a winning record among them. 

However, while the schedule may seem to line up in the Bears' favor, when and if they break the streak isn't guaranteed. After all, nothing is for a team that finished the previous season 3-14. 

Chicago hasn't fared well against the majority of their home opponents this season, beating only the Carolina Panthers (2020) and Las Vegas Raiders (2021) in their most recent meetings. Furthermore, they have multi-game skids against the Green Bay Packers (eight straight), Vikings (four straight) and Detroit Lions (two straight). 

If the Bears lose their first six home games of the 2023 campaign, they could tie the record for most consecutive home losses by dropping a Week 16 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. If they're amazingly 0-7 in Chicago after that, a loss in Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons would give the Bears the unflattering honor all by their lonesome.  

Then again, the NFL can be unpredictable, especially from year to year. Last season, the Bears won only twice at home, with one coming in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, who ultimately went to the NFC title game. So, who knows?