As Bears training camp begins, I can smell it; football season will be here soon. Talked with my son about potentially going down to training camp; told him we have to get to a game this year. We looked at the schedule, noted some potential road games; of course we have the home games in Soldier Field. Probably want to get to Soldier Field a couple more times before the Bears vacate… Got me thinking about my projected Bears win total. Is it time to go through my week to week projections??? Yes, yes it is. Time for my annual exercise in optimism… this year we have a little cheddar riding on it; threw $50 on the Bears over 6.5 win total in Vegas when I was there in the summer. After reviewing the schedule again, I still feel good about it; time to prove out my feeling.
Before we get started, I can’t believe some of the projections coming out around the Bears. Sure, I’m not saying our offense will be gangbusters out of the gate, but we can hang our hat on the defense most of the time. I know Mack is gone; he missed more than half of last year due to injury. Will Quinn be able to repeat his performance? How will the secondary come together around Jaylon Johnson? But I think, as long as Roquan is back, the defense will be, at the worst, middle of the pack in the NFL. I don’t think we can rank the offense better than middle of the pack to start the season; this is where the optimism really kicks into gear. Assuming Fields will take another step, assuming somebody outside of Mooney steps up in the pass catching category, and yeah, the offensive line will block folks, right? Lots of assumptions here, but the one I feel pretty confident in, the one that drove my confidence in my bet, is the improvement of Fields. I think this one is a slam dunk. Not saying All Pro or anything like that. I’m just saying he’ll be better than last year, substantially better. Couple that with an above average defense, and a schedule that’s not so challenging IMO… Last place in the NFC North??? Don’t think so. Let’s go!!!
Week 1 vs 49ers– WIN 27-20: Don’t want to put too much in a season opener, but… a winnable home game to kick off the year… If the Bears have any aspirations of doing anything this year, feels like this game has to fall on our side. We know we’ll see Fields at QB, but who will be the guy in SF? Has that been decided? Guess I’d rather see their young QB Lance; Jimmy G did some damage last year against us, in a game that may be remembered by Bears fans for quite possibly the best single play by Fields all year. Either way… let’s get that W to start the season.
Week 2 at Packers– LOSS 28-27: See! I’m not that crazy… not this early in my season predictions. The Bears WILL hang with them though, giving us hope for the year; keeping this guy pumped about the season. Losing to the Pack always sucks, but we will see them again.
Week 3 vs Texans– WIN 27-17: Come on; everybody has to have the Bears winning this one right? I guess that’s scary, but I’ll take the bait. Another winnable home game, the Bears need to slam this one home. Speaking about who will be the starting QB… With massage fan Watson trying to dodge suspensions in Cleveland, who will be at the helm for the Texans? Any time you ask that question, you have to like your chances. It’s nice for us not to have to ask that question, hopefully for a long, long time.
Week 4 at Giants– WIN 27-24: This isn’t too much of a stretch is it? I know Saquon will be back, but the QB again… why can’t I think of any of these teams’ QBs? Is it still Jones? Another team with an unimpressive QB; another opponent where the Bears have the advantage at that position IMO? That’s kind of nuts. I like it.
OK, time to put a bookmark in it, and continue this in the next blog. But a 3-1 start?!?! I don’t think it’s that out of the question honestly. Let’s see how the rest of the season plays out. Bear Down!!!
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