FanPost

How Many Games Will the Bears Win?

I know this is early and basically useless, but let's see how Bears fans are feeling about our chances this year at this early point in the pre-season. I feel this will be the year that things average out.

The run defense and safety play will show considerable improvement (how could they not). Primary vulnerability will be in the short passing game. Overall the Bears defense will bounce back to slightly better than Mel Tucker's historical average, around 20th in the league.

As much as I hate making this prediction, the law of averages says that the offense most likely will not remain as healthy as it was last year. The good news is that Cutler will remain healthy (knock on wood) and his familiarity with the offense, combined with improved depth on the offensive side of the ball, will overcome the injuries and allow the Bears to put up numbers in last year's range.

Despite the current panic, special teams will end up around Joe DeCamillis' career average for ST rankings as a coordinator, improving to slightly better than 20th.

The modest improvements in D and ST combined with minimal drop-off on O should allow the Bears to add another win or two this year and not require an alignment of the stars to make the playoffs.

This Fanpost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.