The Chicago Bears grizzled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 45-10.
I’ve been a Chicago Bears fan since I emerged from the womb. My first words were “Mike Ditka,” and as every good Bears fan should, I hate the Packers! I barely remember the good old days of the dominant 2006 Bears defense with greats like Urlacher and Tillman. The Chicago Bears I’m most familiar with is a team riddled with terrible trades, weak coaches and the infamous Jay Cutler. The Bears haven’t been to the playoffs since 2010, and the last time they had a winning record, they still finished third in the NFC North. In 2014, the Bears’ defense ranked 29th overall. Just last year, their offense ranked a humiliating 29th in points scored. In other words, the Bears have sucked lately.
Finally, after years of humiliation and defeat, the Bears have managed to build up a team worth paying attention to. In the past two years, Chicago has picked up many key defensive players, including but not limited to Hicks (DT), Floyd (LB), Amukamara (CB) and Jackson (S). Oh, and let’s not forget the steal of the century, Khalil Mack (LB). The Bears offense then went on to pick up valuable wideouts to help 2nd year QB Mitchell Trubisky. I won’t have to cry myself to sleep on Sunday nights anymore—these were the ingredients for success.
Let’s assume the last quarter of week one versus Aaron Rodgers didn’t happen—the Chicago Bears would be undefeated now. I try not to focus on the hypotheticals, so instead consider this: the Bears lead the league in total sacks, but they’re last in the league in blitz percentage; Khalil Mack now has four straight games with a sack and forced fumble; and Mitchell Trubisky had six total touchdowns against the Buccaneers. I have plenty of good reasons to be hopeful about the Bears for the rest of this season.
Historically, when the Bears have been good it’s always been because of two main factors: a dominating defense and a strong running game. In 1985, the Chicago Bears went 15-1 in the regular season and won the Super Bowl because of their defense and Walter Payton. In 2006, the Bears went all the way to the Super Bowl because of an amazing defense and Matt Forte. I predict in 2019, the Bears will go to the Super Bowl because of a Khalil Mack-led defense, an RB duo of Howard and Cohen, along with the cherry on top that is Mitchell Trubisky.
Perhaps I’m getting a little ahead of myself, but speaking realistically, there’s no doubt the Chicago Bears have a good chance to go to the playoffs in Jan. Currently at 3-1 and first in the NFC North, the Bears have a bye week followed by a schedule against teams ranging in difficulty. Sure, it’s early in the season, but this Chicago Bears have shown consistent progress and development that puts them above the rest. We’ll just have to see how the next three months go for the Bears, but in the meantime, let’s celebrate that “Monsters of the Midway” are finally winning.