Thanks to a defense dripping with talent and a multi-faceted offense led by an improving quarterback, the Chicago Bears are prime candidates to reach the Super Bowl.
The Chicago Bears suffered a heartbreaking exit from the 2018-2019 postseason, putting the kicker position under the most powerful of microscopes. For the Bears, anything less than a deep playoff run will be a disappointment, as Matt Nagy and Co. have their eyes fixed squarely on winning the Lombardi Trophy.
Best-case scenario
Only the Rams and Saints, who both played in the NFC Championship Game, notched a better record than the Bears 12-4 mark last season. Now that the Bears have more depth at wide receiver and a wiser Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback, the offense is expected to take another step forward. Meanwhile, the defense is as good as ever.
It isn’t out of the question for the Bears to win 13 games, matching the Rams and Saints NFC-best marks last season. And if they secure homefield advantage in the postseason, they have the right squad to win gritty winter games at Soldier Field before eventually conquering the Super Bowl.
Worst-case scenario
The Bears quietly lost two stars in their secondary this offseason, as Adrian Amos was replaced by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix as Eddie Jackson’s safety partner and Buster Skrine is the new nickel corner for Bryce Callahan. If those two prove to be clear downgrades, the Bears defense may be more vulnerable than last season’s league-best outfit.
But the biggest concerns are on offense. If Trubisky can’t take another step forward and wastes the talent around him, namely Allen Robinson, Chicago could suffer a letdown. Trubisky threw an interception on 2.8% of his passes last season, and if he’s forced to take on more responsibilities, any increase in turnovers could undermine the Bears.
The Packers will be back with a vengeance after a strong offseason, and the Vikings may be a sleeping giant with their squad depth. If those teams are more competitive in 2018, it’s possible any slips from the Bears offense will be punished dearly. In the wild NFC North, missing the postseason isn’t out of the question.
Confidence Level
High. The Bears have a copious amount of young, hungry talent, and this feels like the year they could break through and take the NFL by storm after being on the cusp of greatness in 2018. Plenty hinges on Trubisky, but they seem to have the right pieces around him.
X-Factor
Allen Robinson is the most talented player on the Bears offense, with all due respect to Swiss Army Knife Tarik Cohen. At his best, he is one of the most dominant receivers in the NFL and a special athlete who can turn any given play into a touchdown. Nagy must find a way to make Robinson central to the Bears gameplan, even if Chicago’s ethos will be spreading the ball among at least five other capable pass-catchers. Robinson is too good to waste.
Turning Point
The Bears will face the Cowboys, Packers, Chiefs, and Vikings to finish the 2019 season in a murderer’s row of opponents before the postseason. Two of those teams are division rivals who could challenge the Bears for the NFC North crown, while the Chiefs and Cowboys are contenders. That game against the Chiefs, in particular, will show the rest of the NFL exactly what Chicago is made of before January hits.
Best moment in history
There’s no doubt that the 1985 Bears were one of the greatest teams in NFL history, with arguably the best defense ever assembled. They went 15-1 with the league’s best defense and second-best offense before rampaging through the postseason with two conference shutouts before blowing out the Patriots in the Super Bowl. This team remains the benchmark by which every other potentially great Bears team is measured, including 2019’s promising squad.