CBS Sports’ Amy Trask believes Bears are in the hunt for postseason berth

Despite how the Bears are winning, which is ugly on a week-to-week basis, that they’ve got an opportunity to compete for a postseason berth.

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Even after a 4-1 start, the Chicago Bears haven’t garnered any respect. If you ask most, they’ll say the Bears are the worst 4-1 team in quite awhile. Which they’ve got a point to a degree, at least in terms of the offense.

But the only thing that matters is that the Bears are 4-1 through the first five weeks. And they’ve accomplished that despite some pretty ugly performances.

CBS Sports’ Amy Trask believes that despite how the Bears are winning — which is ugly on a week-to-week basis – they’ve got an opportunity to compete for a postseason berth.

“Let me tell you, something men, there is, in my mind, no such thing as an ugly win,” Trask said. “A win is a win is a win, it’s a thing of beauty.”

The Bears defense hasn’t been great, but they’ve been good against some pretty high-powered offenses this season. They’ve developed this bend-don’t-break mentality that’s been good enough for four — you could argue five — wins.

It’s been the offense that’s continued to hold this team back, even with the change at quarterback from Mitchell Trubisky to Nick Foles. The offense as a whole has struggled to get much going — whether that’s struggles in the passing game or the failure of the run game over these last two games.

So just imagine what this Bears team could look like once they actually manage to put together a complete game.

 


 

What the Bears’ 2-0 start says about their playoff chances in 2020

The Bears aren’t the best 2-0 team out there right now, but they’re undefeated after 2 weeks, which certainly bodes well at  this point.

The Chicago Bears (2-0) are off to their best start since the 2013 season, but it’s safe to say that they just as easily could’ve been 0-2 given some uneven performances and last-second heroics to remain undefeated.

Sure, they’re not the best 2-0 team out there right now, but the Bears are undefeated after the first two weeks, which certainly bodes well at  this point of the 2020 season. While it’s certainly way too early to be talking playoffs just two weeks into the season, it’s hard to argue with what history says about NFL teams that have gotten off to a 2-0 start.

Since 1990, teams that have started the season 2-0 have made the playoffs 61.3 percent of the time, according to Pro Football Reference. Teams that start 2-0 have won the Super Bowl almost 8 percent of the time.

Those odds should only increase this season with the extra wild card spot in each conference.

Considering the Bears were two plays away from starting 0-2, where teams have just a 12.6 percent chance to make the postseason, it’s certainly not a bad thing to be sitting pretty at 2-0 — even if those wins could’ve been more convincing.

ESPN FPI gives Bears 41 percent chance of making playoffs in 2020

The Bears are looking to rebound following a disappointing 2019 season, and ESPN gives them a fair chance at making the postseason in 2020.

Just one year removed from a postseason appearance and a 12-4 record, the Chicago Bears stumbled to a 8-8 record in 2019, following an abysmal performance by the offense.

No one is giving the Bears a chance this season, and some have even declared that Chicago will be among the worst teams in the NFL this season. But it’s hard to logically argue that point, considering the Bears were able to win eight games despite the team’s failures last season.

According to ESPN’s FPI, the Bears have a 41 percent chance of making the playoffs this season, and they’re projected to replicate their eight wins from a year ago.

The Bears’ chances of making the postseason increased with the new collective bargaining agreement, where the playoff field expands from six to seven teams per conference, adding an additional wildcard spot.

While many question Chicago’s ability to rebound next season, especially in a talented NFC North, it’s worth noting that the Bears have relatively the same roster — with a few exceptions — that they had when they surprised the NFL in 2018. The Bears also upgraded at some positions and addressed holes, including at quarterback with Nick Foles, pass rusher with Robert Quinn and added two new starters in the secondary in cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Tashaun Gipson.

Ultimately, the Bears have a favorable stretch in their schedule early on in the season, which could help set the tone for the remainder of the season, where they’ll face playoff teams in seven of their final nine games.

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