2011 Chicago Bears Predictions
The Chicago Bears won the NFC North with an 11-5 record last season and advanced to the NFC title game where they were defeated by eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay.
It’s now been four seasons since Chicago’s last Super Bowl appearance, a drought that doesn’t figure to end until the offense shows more consistency.
Offense: Chicago’s offense left plenty to be desired in 2010. It ranked 30th in the NFL in total offense with 289.4 yards per game and 21st in scoring with 20.9 points per game.
Jay Cutler, who threw for 3,274 yards with 23 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, was better in his second season in The Windy City, but the Bears only ranked 28th in the league in passing offense with 188.4 yards per game.
In Cutler’s defense, the line was awful at times, especially in the first half of the season. Cutler also seemed to benefit when Mike Martz finally made a commitment to the running game in the second half of the season.
Chicago appears set at running back with Matt Forte, who rushed for 1,069 yards and six scores on 4.5 yards per carry last season. He also tied for the team lead with 51 grabs and added three touchdown receptions.
Chester Taylor didn’t quite produce the way the Bears would have liked so they bolstered their running back stable with Pro Bowler Marion Barber.
Like Barber, wide receiver Roy Williams will get a chance to bounce back with the Bears. Williams, who has some size, has a chance to be a solid possession guy and a threat in the red zone for Chicago. He could end up being a nice complement to smaller speedsters Devin Hester and Johnny Knox, who had 51 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns last year.
Chicago’s offensive line allowed Cutler to be sacked 52 times last season. No quarterback was sacked more. Fortunately, the group did jell in the second half of the season, and it should only benefit from the addition of Gabe Carimi.
Defense: Chicago’s stop unit carried the load in 2010. It ranked fourth in scoring defense with 17.9 points allowed per game and ninth in total defense with 314.3 yards allowed per game.
The addition of Julius Peppers and a healthy Brian Urlacher went a long way toward Chicago reestablishing itself as one of the premier defensive teams in the league.
Peppers earned his paycheck in 2010 with eight sacks and 23 quarterback pressures. Israel Idonije benefited from all the attention teams were paying to Peppers. He also tallied eight sacks.
The Bears are excited about rookie tackle Stephen Paea. They believe he can fill the void left by the release of Tommie Harris.
Urlacher and Lance Briggs, who have made a combined 13 Pro Bowls, make up one of the best linebacking duos in the league. Urlacher led the team with 146 stops and Briggs was second with 121.
Charles Tillman, who has started each of his eight seasons, is the anchor of the secondary and continues to be one of the most underrated corners in the game. He tied for the team lead in interceptions with five last year.
Prediction: 2nd Place NFC North – It will be difficult for the Bears to repeat as division champs. After all, Green Bay has Aaron Rodgers and Chicago doesn’t. Still, Chicago should have an opportunity to nab one of the NFC’s Wild Card spots as long as the defense remains stout and the offense shows improvement. NFL odds makers have listed the Bears at +450 to win the NFC North.
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