I'm bored and the 2 month drought of football content is just around the corner, there won't be enough Justin Fields news to fill my football hype until the merciless month of August that comes to haunt us with injury news... knock on wood (blasting wooden bat like the big hurt against Yggdrasil).
So for fun I thought I would try and guess how the 2021 Chicago Bears will do against their opponents this season. Anyone saying they know how their team or any teams record is going to end up looking at this point of the season is kidding him or herself, there is so many variables from the end of the previous season all the way to the start of the season a whole new team is formed by trades, free agency, the draft, contract disputes, personal training, health and conditioning, coaching to managing changes and a bunch of other bits that influence players and /or organizations, from here on there are training camps and possibly more signings and trades due to evaluation on players or injuries. After all this you could get a bit of a clearer idea where the team is at but even once the season starts the chess matches week by week start, the coaches watch if they got the personnel right to play their game scheme which can change with better player evaluation as they go if the team has the right players and coaches. So a team that is still searching for stability like the Bears, it's almost imposible to know how they will perform this season. There is no question they attacked big needs at important positions by getting good promising players at the draft and brought some good vets for depth and competition, all this gives Bears fans something to look forward to this season even if the schedule looks really tough based on last season team records but again this could all be a mirage and good teams might not be so good now and bad teams could get better this year, like the Bears.
So with this being said, let me waste some time with this,
@LA RAMS: Straight up this one looks like a loss. The two most early encounters against the Rams were somewhat close matches and the Bears were able to win one of them, the thing that made them be close was because Jared Goff wasn't very good but now the Rams have Stafford which is no pushover and has been able to be a good QB with not so very good offenses at Detroit, add a very upgraded Rams defense and the result is not very promising for the Bears. The Rams have a very solid WR group that can run routes really well and they added some size with the addition of Ben Skowronek who isn't easy to bring down, plays like a TE which the Rams don't need much help there. They are diverse at their RBs group and the OL is ok with experience at T. At defense, their pride is their DL group which was not fair to begin with and now they added another talent with Bobby Brown III, this group makes the LB group look good. The secondary is solid but they have a chance to get better at S with the depth they have.
Most probable result: L
VS BENGALS: Looks like here is where the Bears can start the season with a win. The Bengals got much needed protection for their QB, its still wait and see if they did enough and could still be a weak spot against strong front sevens. The WR group is loaded and the RBs are not far behind and could light up the board if they are given time. At defense they bolstered their DL with young talent but its the same scenario as the OL, they might need time to gel and the Bears could benefit from getting them early in the season, the LBs and DBs don't look particularly solid but the S's do.
Most probable result: W
@CLEVELAND: The Browns have been building an interesting roster the las couple of years, the offense has good players all around but I believe their strength is on the OL, this is a team that can establish the run to help out their QB to not take unnecessary risks. The defense has a good DL rotation, LBs are iffy but the addition of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is huge, he along with rookie Greg Newsome could make the secondary a nightmare for opposing offenses. I expect this game to be very competitive but feel like the Browns are a bit more established offensively than the Bears right now, The Bears most likely will be depending on rookies to play starting roles and might struggle enough to let this one slip from their fingers.
Most probable result: L
VS LIONS: I liked the Lions draft this year, they got a lot of potential players that could start even this year but that's because, in part, the roster has many holes, it's still doesn't look like a finished product but it's looking much better. Offensively they most likely managed to solidify a very strong OL with Penei Sewell that is much needed to protect their new and shaky QB. They managed to fill in their WR group with a bunch of promising rookies but still its a wait and see scenario for all of them, the same could be said about their RBs and TEs group but with less chances to hit. The defense is the same story, got talent in the draft for the DL, LB and CB positions, they needed that same promise for S but at least they look really good at CB. The Lions have tools to build a good team if this group of rookies pan out, if at this point of the season they are still suffering some growing pains, which is the most likely scenario, the Bears should take advantage of this.
Most probable result: W
@ LAS VEGAS: If it wasn't for Darren Waller and the RBs group, I would be really worried for the Raiders to be the worst team in 2021. The WR and OL groups look questionable, doesn't look like they did much to upgrade at these groups and I can't but feel sorry for Derek Carr right now. Defensive side looks a bit better, they seem to have some pass rush established but at DT it doesn't look like they did, they left the LBs group as it was which isn't ideal and their CBs group is average. There is no question however that S was a group the Raiders focused on getting upgraded as fast as posible, three talented safeties got picked and they were so full on promising prospects that on the depth chart Divine Deablo is listed as a LB, maybe it's true and Deablo is sloted to play a position similar to Owusu-Koramoah. I doubt the Raiders will win with their five safeties covering the secondary and feel they didn't do much to help the offense get better so I will give this one to the Bears.
Most probable result: W
VS PACKERS: Aaron Rodgers isn't going anywhere is he? If he goes, and should go not JUST because I don't want him in the same division as the Bears but because until now there has been no report of some sort of resolution between him and the Packers since last year, he should be picked by the Broncos or Colts who are ok with cap space and their teams are loaded enough for a Super Bowl run. But for now I simulate this game as if Rodgers is playing, because if Love start I'm giving the Bears the win. With Rodgers at the helm the Bears will continue struggling, the OL is solid, the addition of Amari Rodgers is a really good one to upgrade the WR group as well as the RBs group with Kylin Hill. At defense the front seven stayed the same which is not good nor bad, the secondary gets a boost with the addition of Eric Stokes pushing Kevin King and Josh Jackson to play against TEs and big receivers. So the Packers did just enough to still be favorites to win the division, it will all depend on this Rodgers soap opera but as for now as much as I hate to admit it I have to give the win to them just because stability and frikin Rodgers.
Most probable result: L
@TAMPA BAY: I just cannot underestimate Tom Brady. Offensively it works because of Bray, the OL is solid and added young talent to try and keep it that way. WRs, RBs and TEs are average at worst but if you can't rattle Brady then they will make you pay. The defense on the other hand is very good, its the same defense from last year and the strength of it is the secondary that helps the pass rush get to the QB. It's a beatable team if you play clean, mean and fast football, but again the inexperience of this Bears team doesn't match well against them yet.
Most probable result: L
VS 49ERS: The 49ers really what to run the ball. I don't know how much Jimmy Garoppolo is going to last either by not performing well or getting injured again, but if Trey Lance stars I can see them running 85% of their plays, they have the talent at RB, OL and even TE to make this happen, the other 15% will be bubbles and reverses... although those are running plays too, ok so 100% runs. At defense there is talent all around mainly because every group has a dominant player that helps balance the rest of the squads. The 49ers have exceed expectations lately because of their coaching taking advantage of their star players, this game could go either way but with too much uncertainty with this Bears team I will tip the balance to the 49ers side this time.
Most probable result: L
@ PITTSBURGH: I don't see Ben Roethlisberger as an elite QB anymore, hes at Phillip Rivers retiring level about now, thats not bad but not good enough to not have a backup plan at QB on your roster. WR group is a good one but will Ben have enough time behind the OL that doesn't look better? although it could with the acquisition of rookies Dan Moore Jr. and Kendrick green who bring a certain level of nastiness that the Steelers are used to be known for but its not a sure thing. The defense lost some key players and doesn't look like they did enough to fill in the holes, the front seven looks good especially the DTs and T.J. Watt coming from the edge, LBs is still under evaluation and rebuild with Bud Dupree gone, DBs aside from Minkah Fitzpatrick there's not much to feel good about with what looks like a huge hole to fill opposite veteran Joe Haden. Honestly, I like the chances the Bears could have coming to this game to "upset" this Steelers team who I see as the weakest team in the AFC North this year.
Most probable result: W
BYE WEEK: BEARS FANS MORAL L unless packers L then BEARS FANS MORAL W
VS RAVENS: Welp, maybe the Bears should take another week off. The Ravens are not exactly a powerhouse but they are not far from it. I like what they got to compete at OL with Adrian Ealy and Ben Cleveland, two really big dudes that I wouldn't be surprised they start this year. With this big of a chance to upgrade the OL, its all good news for Lamar Jackson and the RBs to take advantage of this, the WRs group got some needed help but its still going to be a wait and see scenario. The defense is going to be good of course, Odafe Oweh and Ar'Darious Washington where picked up to make it even better most likely.
Most probable result: L
@ DETROIT: By this point of the season maybe the Lions are more accustomed to their coaches system and new teammates, but still I would asume that the Bears will be doing better and wont let their rival get he best of them.
Most probable result: W
VS CARDINALS: The cardinals are slowly but steadily building something here. I'm still a bit skeptical of how good Kyler Murray is but he should still be considered dangerous, he gets help at WR with the addition of Rondale Moore to pair up with the veteran duo of A.J. Green and arguably the best wide out DeAndre Hopkins, so stopping this group wont be easy. The OL, TE and RB groups are not bad but beatable with a good defensive group. At defense the front seven looks better to stop the run than to rush the passer with average EDGE rushers but I cant count out the savvy J.J. Watt and speedy youngsters at MLB. The secondary can get even more solid if James Wiggins contributes at SS. This could be another big battle of who got better at the offseason and I believe in the Bears to get it done.
Most probable result: W
@ GREEN BAY: Is Rodgers still there? Yes? Dammit. It's going to take some really good development from the whole organization to leapfrog this team but if Justin Fields can become who I think he is then the Bears are on the right track, its all a matter of time.
Most probable result: L
VS VIKINGS: I wonder if Kellen Mond will be playing this one... Either way right now I don't see a big difference between the two QBs, the Vikings might have two serviceable QBs and a promising mix of WRs but offensively the bigger problem was and might still be the OL but not as much as last year, I cannot say they didn't make a big splash by acquiring Christian Darrisaw who is full of potential and could be a really good LT for years to come, Wyatt Davis will battle for an interior spot and maybe this year the Vikings will be able to protect their QB and most importantly for them is to unleash Dalvin Cook's full potential. The Vikings are not to shabby at defense adding talent at the DL and LB positions, if their DBs take another step forward this defense is pretty solid. If the Bears are in way to a Wild Card spot by now, both games against the rival Vikings are going to be huge and they are not a team to take lightly, the talent is real and it might just be a bit to real for this Bears team.
Most probable result: L
@SEATTLE: Another team that aimed to get better at OL. Additions of Stone Forsythe and Greg Eiland will create necessary competition to upgrade this squad, still I believe this area was in need of even more talent to fix it and that could be a shame because the Seahawks bolstered their WR group very well by drafting Dwayne Eskridge and getting Tamorrion Terry and Cade Johnson from the UDFA pool, Russell Wilson will have enough wide outs to throw to if he can get the ball out of the backfield. the TE and RB groups are solid with good depth. At defense there is talent all around but nothing that screams elite, still they have enough talent to make a solid unit. The Seahawks are still no pushovers and its always a challenge to beat them at home now that the 12th man will likely be back at full force.
Most probable result: L
VS GIANTS: The Giants have a good looking roster. They have lots of talent at WR and have a star RB in Saquon Barkley that hopefully the injury he sustained las year doesn't have a toll on his skill set. the OL looks good even when they didn't invest on new players, everything looks set for Daniel Jones to have a good year... OMG Dave Gettleman thank you for letting us have Justin Fields and a dream. The Giants defense has some good man power at DL and gets a little thin at LB, the secondary is above average. If the Bears lose this one I probably wont be mad because it would astound me if Fields doesn't develop to be a good QB, the Bears might loosen up a bit and the Giants could come up winning this one, but I honestly doubt it even if from the bottom of my heart I want to thank them somehow, but they already have the Bears first rounder next year so they can try and be happy like Bears fans are now.
Most probable result: W
@ MINNESOTA: Little will change from the last time that these two met, the only thing that might influence is if the Vikings are playoff bound and would like to rest some players. But if they go all out, then I give it to them.
Most probable result: L
Final result, 7-10 is my very early prediction which would put the Bears out of the playoffs with a so-so season. Obviously this can go better or worse depending on injuries, development and which side lady luck is at. I can't see the Bears going worst than 5-12 with posible extra loses to Pittsburgh and Arizona also I wouldn't be all that surprised if they go 9-8 with wins against the Vikings and 49ers. But really at the end what really matters is if Fields plays and what he shows on the field, the story from here on out is how much development he shows and what can this organization surround him with.
