The sports landscape has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but the NFL has been able to carry on with business as usual during its 2020 offseason.
While the plan, at present, is for the NFL to conduct its 2020 season in full — from preseason to regular season to postseason — there will be modifications necessary to ensure the health and safety of players and those involved.
The NFL made its first major move with the announcement that all games will be played in the United States, which means that annual international games have been cancelled for the 2020 season.
NFL officially will not play any international games this season: pic.twitter.com/SrvsU81bSm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 4, 2020
The Jacksonville Jaguars were scheduled for two home games at Wembley Stadium in London with the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins hosting one game at Tottenham Stadium in London. The Arizona Cardinals were set to host a game at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
This news doesn’t impact the Bears, who weren’t slated for any international games in 2020. Last season, Chicago faced the Las Vegas Raiders at Tottenham Stadium in London, a deflating 24-21 defeat in Week 5.
The NFL is expected to release the 2020 regular-season schedule as early as Thursday — no later than Saturday, May 9 — where we’ll learn exactly when the Bears will be facing their 2020 opponents, assuming the 2020 season happens.
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