5 bold predictions for Chicago Bears in 2020
The Chicago Bears finished with an 8-8 record with Mitchell Trubisky presiding over their offense in 2019. Can Nick Foles do better in 2020?
The quarterback battle between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles is going to dominate the headlines for the Chicago Bears when their preseason ultimately gets going. The winner of the contest will be expected to get Chicago back into the playoffs.
The offense was an unmitigated disaster in 2019. Matt Nagy has the reputation of being an offensive guru, but his unit only managed to score 17.5 points per game a season ago. That ranked 29th out of the NFL’s 32 franchises.
The only (theoretical) major addition to the group in free agency is tight end Jimmy Graham. It’s unclear just how much gas the veteran pass-catcher still has left in the tank. The truth is any improvement the Bears offense is going to enjoy this season will come at the quarterback position.
Things on defense are much more settled. Khalil Mack anchors a devastating front seven that can wreck opposing offenses on a weekly basis. The franchise may be overpaying Robert Quinn on the other side of the formation, but he’ll serve as an upgrade over Leonard Williams.
The blueprint for Chicago success in 2020 is simple: maintain a top-five defense and elevate the offense to a top-10 unit. Their ability to execute that plan will depend greatly on the outcome of the following five bold predictions.
5. Buster Skrine will beat out Artie Burns
The fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers elected to decline Burns’ fifth year option says a lot about how they felt about him as a player. He’s a worthwhile gamble for Chicago, but he’s not going to hold down a starting spot for the full season.
There’s a distinct chance that the Bears spend a high draft pick on a corner, but they don’t have a first-rounder at the moment. That’s why Buster Skrine has the inside track on starting opposite Kyle Fuller. He’s better suited to play as the team’s slot corner, but the coaching staff won’t have that luxury.