In a surprising turn of events, the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves with an unusual divisional schedule for the upcoming 2024 NFL season. Both teams will not face a divisional opponent until Week 11, setting them apart from the other teams in their respective divisions.

The Bears' 2024 schedule was released on Wednesday, bringing attention to this peculiar quirk. Out of their final eight games, six of them will be against NFC North rivals, highlighting a crucial stretch for the team. On the other hand, the remaining three teams in the NFC North will already have played two divisional games before Week 11, giving them an early head start.

However, it appears that the Bears are not alone in this division scheduling anomaly, as the Pittsburgh Steelers also won't play a divisional game until Week 11. This aligns with the NFL's preference of having divisional matchups in the latter part of the season to intensify the race for playoff spots.

When asked about this scheduling quirk, Mike North, the NFL Vice President of Broadcast Planning, explained that the intention was not to exclude divisional games in the early part of the season. Comparing it to a college basketball schedule, he mentioned that the nonconference games come first, and it wasn't deemed unfair.

North further highlighted the league's longstanding tradition of prioritizing divisional games later in the season to enhance the drama and playoff implications. This approach, which seems to have been influenced by the leadership of former executive Howard Katz, has been a staple in the scheduling process for some time.

Considering the excitement and competitiveness of both the AFC and NFC North divisions, Charlotte Carey, the NFL's Director of Broadcasting, explained that loading the back end of the schedule with these highly anticipated matchups was a conscious decision. The league sees the value in showcasing the intense rivalries within these divisions and believes that it will contribute to an enthralling culmination to the regular season.

While this unique division scheduling may raise eyebrows among fans and analysts alike, it appears that the 2024 season will be a showcase of tough divisional battles in the final stretch. As the Bears and Steelers prepare for their late-season divisional showdowns, it will be interesting to see how these teams adapt to the unusual scheduling and how it impacts their playoff aspirations.

As the league looks ahead to future seasons, it is likely that the NFL will evaluate the implications and reception of such an extreme division schedule and make adjustments accordingly. For now, football fans can anticipate a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 season, filled with intense divisional clashes and high-stakes playoff races.