Chicago Bears will be in the NFL playoffs in 2014 if…
Conclusion: It wasn’t that long ago that the Bears were hosting the NFC Championship Game. As of late, the team has almost found ways to keep itself out of the playoffs. But with Trestman they trust and a second season under his command could reap some big benefits.
It would not be out of the question if this club led the entire NFL in scoring. The team is loaded at basically every offensive position and if Cutler can stay upright for the vast majority of the season, they figure to be a lot of fun to watch.
But the key will be how far the club progresses on defense. The pass rush figures to be revived but if the team doesn’t improve its play against the run, Allen and company almost become a moot point. In any case, Allen and the other new components figure to get this team back on track in terms of takeaways. Chicago forced just 28 turnovers this past season, down considerably from their league-high total of 44 takeaways n 2012.
All the parts are here for a very successful season in the Windy City. And in some ways, it would be a much bigger surprise if the Bears weren’t in the playoffs and in the mix for a trip to Super Bowl XLIX.