Ladies and gentlemen — we made it. Week 1 of the regular season is here! Football — real football, mind you — is finally back.
The state of the Chicago Bears and how they got here over the past 12 months is well documented. Here’s a quick, high level recap:
- Tons of injuries and poor talent led to a miserable 2016 season
- The Jay Cutler Era in Chicago ended after eight seasons
- Mike Glennon was signed to a starter’s deal when free agency began
- Ryan Pace stunned the football world by drafting Mitch Trubisky 2nd overall
- Trubisky lit it up during training camp and the preseason, whereas Glennon faltered
Alas, John Fox & Co decided that Glennon will start the season opener against the defending NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field on Sunday. For a guy whose job is on the line, Fox sure has a lot of faith in someone who hasn’t looked the part. Experience be damned.
Still, all hope is not lost. Health permitting, and yes – this is a qualifier for everything, the defense looks like it’s going to be awesome. The obvious strength of this team, many experts project them to be a Top 10 unit, yours truly included. The special teams unit also looks like it has improved leaps and bounds from past years.
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The offense, though, is worrisome. Apart from having Glennon start, losing Cameron Meredith is a killer. The depth on the receiving corps is non-existent. I’m interested in seeing what kinds of calls and packages Dowell Loggains comes up with to try to free up some of his lesser receivers that will assume larger responsibilities this year. I already think highly of him as an offensive coordinator, and if he can make decent tasting lemonade with the personnel he has at his disposal, the Bears would be hard pressed not to consider him seriously for their head coaching job should they choose to move on from John Fox at the end of the year.
That being said, and using the new data we’ve gathered about this team from the offseason, training camp and preseason, it’s time to predict how the 2017 Chicago Bears season will go down.
Regular Season Predictions
Week 1: Atlanta Falcons, in Chicago – W (1-0): Surprise! I think the Super Bowl hangover for the losing team is real. And every new season brings new hope and fire to all players, even those on teams not projected to do much like the Bears. On talent alone, the Bears don’t measure up. But I have a feeling the defense will be looking to make a statement. Look for rookie safety Eddie Jackson to play hero in some way, shape, or form.
Week 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Tampa Bay – L (1-1): The Bears got rocked in Tampa last year. The Bucs are a solid team that got better in the offseason, and I expect Jameis Winston to take the next step this year. It’s going to be an ugly return for Mike Glennon.
Week 3: Pittsburgh Steelers, in Chicago – L (1-2): The Steelers are so much fun to watch. With arguably the best receiver in the NFL, along with, in my opinion, the best running back in the NFL, I don’t see the Bears putting up enough points.
Week 4: Green Bay Packers, in Green Bay – L (1-3): Yeah, the Bears aren’t winning at Lambeau with Mike Glennon at quarterback. On a different note, why, recently, are Bears-Packers prime time games in Green Bay every time?
Week 5: Minnesota Vikings, in Minnesota – W (2-3): I think this is when John Fox makes the switch and goes to Mitch Trubisky. The future is here. The fans are pumped. Trubisky’s first NFL start under the lights in front of a national audience. Pack it in, Vikings.
Week 6: Baltimore Ravens, in Baltimore – W (3-3): I don’t think Joe Flacco is that good, Super Bowl MVP or not. There, I said it. I think the defense can make his life hell. And I think they will. Look for a defensive score to be the difference.
Week 7: Carolina Panthers, in Chicago – L (3-4): I expect this to be a defensive slugfest. In the end, I think Trubisky’s inexperience shows up and he makes one mistake too many. Luke Kuechly is going to have a field day toying with the rook.
Week 8: New Orleans Saints, in New Orleans – L (3-5): The Superdome has not been kind to the Bears. And Drew Brees still has tons of weapons. Ryan Pace will watch his old franchise quarterback beat his new franchise quarterback.
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Green Bay Packers, in Chicago – W (4-5): I think the Bears have improved to the point where they can compete with Green Bay now. They did so last year with Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley at quarterback. Yes, situations were different, but I expect Leonard Floyd to terrorize the Packers’ offensive line and create a turnover that happens to be the difference. In fact, at this point, Leonard Floyd will be terrorizing all offensive lines.
Week 11: Detroit Lions, in Chicago – W (5-5): I don’t think the Lions are a very good team. I’m higher on Matthew Stafford than many cynics in Detroit might be, but I’ll take Trubisky against their defense over Stafford against Chicago’s defense.
Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles, in Philadelphia – L (5-6): The reunion with Alshon Jeffery will not go well. I expect him to dominate. 200+ yards, maybe?
Week 13: San Francisco, in Chicago – W (6-6): The 49ers will be better than last year’s dumpster fire that got blown out 26-6 at snowy Soldier Field against Matt Barkley. Will they be better to the point of actually competing against the Bears? Unlikely.
Week 14: Cincinnati Bengals, in Cincinnati – L (6-7): At this point, being 6-6, the Bears are right in the middle of wild card discussions. Exciting! But they’re just not ready. And they’ll prove it by laying an egg against an often disappointing Bengals team.
Week 15: Detroit Lions, in Detroit – L (6-8): Ford Field has been a circle of Hell for the Bears in recent years. From blowouts to blown leads, the Bears have suffered every imaginable loss there. Stafford & Co. kill any remaining playoff hope for Chicago.
Week 16: Cleveland Browns, in Chicago – W (7-8): It’s the Browns. I repeat. It’s the Browns. Trubisky going up against his hometown team? Expect him to eat.
Week 17: Minnesota Vikings, in Minnesota – L (7-9): The Bears haven’t had much luck when finishing their seasons in Minnesota the last few years. The Bears end this season with another whimper.
Season Totals: 7-9, 3rd in the NFC North
Award Predictions
Most Valuable Player: Jordan Howard
Honorable Mention: Mitch Trubisky
Offensive Player of the Year (Non-QB Edition): Jordan Howard
Honorable Mention: Kendall Wright
Defensive Player of the Year: Leonard Floyd
Honorable Mentions: Akiem Hicks, Jerrell Freeman
Offensive Surprise of the Year (Non-QB Edition): Dion Sims
Honorable Mention: Deonte Thompson
Defensive Surprise of the Year: Jonathan Bullard
Honorable Mention: Cre’Von Leblanc, Kyle Fuller
Rookie of the Year (Non-Mitch Edition): Eddie Jackson
Honorable Mention: Tarik Cohen
Crazy Fact of the Year: Mitch Trubisky finishes with a passer rating > Jay Cutler’s career best of 92.3.
Honorable Mention: Tarik Cohen finishes with more yards than Kevin White
