The NFL released the schedule for the 2024 regular season last night. Fans can now examine their favorite team's schedule closely and analyze how they feel about their bye week, number of prime time games, and when they play their favorite division rivals. This is also the time of year where some unique quirks can be found in the schedule. The Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers are two teams that share the same bizarre quirk in their schedules.

As Ari Meirov pointed out on social media, both teams do not play any divisional games in the first 10 weeks of the NFL season. Therefore, six of the final eight games for each team will be divisional matchups that will be highly important for making the playoffs.

The Bears play three straight divisional games from Weeks 11-13, including a Thanksgiving game against the Lions. They play the Vikings on Monday night in Week 15, followed by another game against the Lions in Week 16 and finish the year in Lambeau Field against the Packers. Their bye week is in Week 7.

The Steelers play four straight divisional games from Weeks 11-14, including a Thursday night matchup against the Browns. They also have a Saturday game against the Ravens in Week 16 and finish the year at home against the Bengals. Their bye week is in Week 9.

Reviewing the 2024 schedule for the Chicago Bears

Despite finishing in the bottom of the NFC North in 2023, the Bears have a tough schedule in 2024.

The NFC North drew the AFC South (Titans, Texans, Colts, Jaguars) and NFC West (Cardinals, Seahawks, 49ers, Rams) to play round robin. The Bears will face all teams from those division one time in the regular season.

The only games on the schedule that look like possible easy games are the Panthers in Week 5, Commanders in Week 8, and Patriots in Week 10.

The Bears have three primetime games (Sunday Night Football in Week 2, Monday Night Football in Week 15, and Thursday Night Football in Week 17) as well as a handful of other nationally-televised games. These include a London game against the Jaguars in Week 6 and a Thanksgiving game against the Lions.

Chicago will need to play competitive football at the end of the season against their NFC North rivals if they want a shot at the playoffs.

Reviewing the 2024 schedule for the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers look to have a buzzsaw of a schedule as well.

The AFC North drew the NFC East (Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Commanders) and AFC West (Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Raiders) to play round robin. The Steelers will face all teams from those divisions one time during the regular season.

Washington, Denver, and Las Vegas are the games that look easiest for Pittsburgh to win. That shows how tough of a schedule they have in 2024.

Pittsburgh has a number of primetime games on their schedule this year. They play the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 5. They follow that up with back-to-back primetime games against the Jets in Week 7 (Sunday Night Football) and the Giants in Week 8 (Monday Night Football) before their bye week. Finally, the Steelers play the Browns on Thursday Night football in Week 12.

The Steelers will feel like they need to start off hot and pick up wins against Atlanta, Denver, and Los Angeles Chargers to get their 2024 season on track.