Just this time last offseason, many NFL experts listed the Chicago Bears as Super Bowl contenders. And why shouldn’t they have?
The Bears were coming off a 12-4 season, including their first postseason appearance in nearly a decade. Chicago had a dominant, turnover-hungry defense that singlehandedly won games. They also had an offense that was expected to make strides in its second year.
Oh, the pain that comes with shattered expectations.
Instead, the Bears stumbled to a 8-8 record, mostly due to an ineffective offense that couldn’t capitalize on a Chicago defense allowing the fourth-fewest points per game at 18.6.
General manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy have been busy making moves that should benefit the offense — including hiring four new offensive coaches tailored for positions of need, as well as bringing in new faces at quarterback in Nick Foles, tight end in Jimmy Graham and offensive line in Germain Ifedi.
While you’re not likely to hear the Bears and Super Bowl mentioned in the same sentence leading up to the 2020 season, this is a team that might not be as far off as some believe.
Interestingly enough, there are some that have the Bears as potential contenders in a loaded NFC conference in 2020. NFL.com ranked the Bears among the contenders — those that have a chance to make a splash — in the NFC.
The Bears are better on paper with Nick Foles replacing wayward flinger Mitch Trubisky — if Foles stays healthy. History tells us that’s a high-concept wild card. Adding Robert Quinn to the defensive front is juicy, but handing $9 million guaranteed to disappearing tight end Jimmy Graham is up there with the mysteries of Egypt.
Now, offseason recognition means nothing. Especially with so many questions left to be answered on Chicago’s roster. Last season, it appeared the hype hurt the Bears more than it helped them. Everyone was riding the bandwagon — until it came to a crashing halt in the regular-season opener.
But the point is, the Bears still have a loaded roster that is capable of stringing together wins. The defense, even with some losses, remains a championship-caliber. But it’s the offense that has the most to prove — and will ultimately dictate how far this team can go next season.
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