Windy City Gridiron
Picture this: it’s September 15th, the Bears have just been rocked by the Detroit Lions by 31 points, fall to 0-2, and are 1-12 in their last 13 regular season games.
Bleak. Things are looking very bleak.
Fast forward, and it is November 18th, and things could not feel more different. Winners of 7 of their last 8 games, and in first place in the NFC North, the Bears are no longer bleak. There is life. There is belief. There is a hunger.
A 7-3 Bears team after 10 games felt like an optimistic projection given last season and the amount of change that needed to happen. Yet, here we are.
Many are discounting the Bears as “frauds” and not worthy of their record. It is noted that they still have a negative point differential, and that their wins have come against bad opponents. They are viewed as lucky. To that, I note that luck is simply when preparation and opportunity meet.
When opportunity has presented itself – the Bears have shown to be prepared.
So as the Bears march towards a relevant December, what is their ceiling this season? Their last seven games feature six games against teams with winning records, and a collective record of 35-25-1. Things are likely to get much harder from here.
If the Bears can squeak out 3 wins in 7 games, with one or two against direct competition in the division and wild-card standings, it is highly likely that they earn a playoff berth. So my question is simple:
I think the answer is yes. But I don’t think they win any more than 10.
The first win we can chalk up to is the Browns. While stopping Myles Garrett will remain a tall order, the Bears’ OL is better than in years past, and their HC is better at devising schemes to beat opposing defenses. The Browns’ offense remains a mess, no matter who is at QB. This should be a win.
From there, the Steelers seem like the next most obvious victory. This is only clearer because Aaron Rodgers appears to be out, and Mason Rudolph will be starting at QB. While Rudolph is a middling backup QB, I don’t see him lighting up a secondary that is on the verge of earning one or two critical pieces back. While the Bears should not underestimate another backup QB in the AFC North, they should win this one.
From there, it gets tougher. They play the Packers (twice), the Niners, and the Lions. Each team is playing each other for their playoff lives, so the Bears should expect the best from each of these talented and well-coached squads.
My expectation is that the Bears will either split a game against the Packers or steal one in San Francisco. The Packers are as inconsistent as any team in the NFL, and the Bears could easily beat them on an off day. Meanwhile, the...
