Not a lot of people are buying into the Chicago Bears for the 2021 season. That isn’t hard to understand. Aaron Rodgers is still in Green Bay. The Bears reportedly have the toughest strength of schedule in the league. One that includes several playoff teams in the first half alone. Combine that with uncertainty on the offensive line and in the secondary? It is hard for many to believe they’re capable of navigating that to a third playoff appearance in four years. Sam Acho is not one of them.
The former Bears outside linebacker is now an analyst for ESPN. He was on First Take to discuss the overall situation in the NFC. The question asked was whether people were sleeping on the Seattle Seahawks as a threat. Acho said no, people weren’t sleeping on them. It was the Bears people were sleeping on. How confident is he in his former team? Enough to predict they go 11-6 this season and claim the final wild card spot in the postseason.
Over Seattle.
Needless to say, some people were stunned by those comments. Particularly his co-analyst Marcus Spears who clearly thought the former linebacker had lost his mind. Acho didn’t back down though. What makes him so confident? Two key factors. His belief that Sean Desai will make the Bears’ defense one of the best in the NFL again and the fact Justin Fields will become the starter sooner than later and immediately galvanize the offense.
Is Acho being a little too biased towards his former team? Maybe. Then again his confidence is hard to ignore. He’s made his belief in Desai clear for months. In fact, he was the one who urged the Bears to hire him as a replacement to Chuck Pagano as defensive coordinator. As for Fields? Acho made his admiration of the 11th overall pick plain when he said he and San Francisco 49ers rookie Trey Lance might end up being the next Peyton Manning and Tom Brady of the NFL.
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So yeah Sam Acho is all in on the 2021 Bears
It is refreshing to hear such optimism in a vast ocean of negativity. Sure, this team is definitely flawed. Their secondary lost its best player in Kyle Fuller and didn’t find a suitable replacement. Their offensive line is riddled with question marks, especially at the tackle positions. Even so, it wouldn’t be accurate to say the team is a complete mess. That isn’t true at all. They have their strengths.
The front seven might still be one of the best in football. A defensive line featuring Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, and a returning Eddie Goldman. Khalil Mack remains a monster. Roquan Smith is an emerging star. If Robert Quinn regains even a portion of the player he was prior to 2020? That front is going to give opponents headaches. Andy Dalton and Justin Fields are significantly better options at quarterback than Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles. Throw in a wide receiver stable loaded with speed?
It might not be a proven roster, but it’s intriguing.
That is what Sam Acho is getting at more than anything. If this roster plays up to its potential? The Bears are absolutely capable of making the playoffs. What a lot of people can’t buy into is that happening. Partly because they don’t trust Matt Nagy and this coaching staff to get it out of them. Especially on the offensive side. Maybe they’ll prove Acho right.
