The Chicago Bears were the most surprising team in the league last season. Everyone expected the Bears to finish in third or fourth place in the NFC North, yet they surprised us all by winning the division in Matt Nagy’s first season as coach. Nagy was named NFL Coach of the Year for Chicago’s turnaround, but the Bears were one and done in the playoffs. That disappointing end as some down on the Bears chances of making it back to the postseason, and their NFL betting odds to make the playoffs again are only slightly shaded in the affirmative.
Will the Chicago Bears Make the Playoffs in 2019?
Yes -130
No +100
Odds Analysis
Chicago’s defense was one of the league’s best in 2018, and the Bears led the team’s charge into the postseason. The defense boasted four Pro Bowlers and three First Team All-Pros, and this unit could be even better this year. If the offense can improve after a promising first year under Nagy, the Bears should have no problem winning 10 or more games.
Breaking Down Chicago’s Offense
Some had already given up on Mitchell Trubisky after a disappointing rookie season, but Nagy turned the North Carolina product into a Pro Bowl player in his second year in the league. Trubisky was solid in completing two-thirds of his passes for over 3,200 yards, and the hope is that he will take another step forward this year.
The plan last year was for Trubisky to make one read and then tuck it and run if the first read wasn’t open. He got in trouble when he tried to progress through reads, and that’s something he needs to improve if the offense is going to be considerably better. Trubisky was a surprisingly elusive runner, but Nagy might want to reel that impulse in after his quarterback was injured late last season after taking off.
Trubisky should be helped by an improved running game. Jordan Howard was a marginal running back last season, so Chicago brought in Mike Davis and then drafted David Montgomery and Kerrith Whyte Jr. in hopes of finding a solid running back. Tarik Cohen is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, but he is not an every down runner.
There is a lot of buzz surrounding Anthony Miller entering his second season in the league. Louis Riddick and others have said that Miller will be one of the best receivers in the NFL this season, and that would give Chicago something it hasn’t had in a long time.
Breaking Down Chicago’s Defense
Almost the entire defense returns from last season, including all four Pro Bowlers. That continuity will be huge, making this defense elite once again.
Khalil Mack showed the difference that an elite pass rusher can make. Chicago gave up a small fortune to acquire him from Oakland, but no one questioned the price when they saw what he did with this defense. He came in second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and he could be even better as the talented Roquan Smith has another year under his belt. That will free Mack up more than what we saw last year.
Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman are both great defensive linemen in the 3-4 front, and the secondary is out of this world. Cornerback Kyle Fuller and safety Eddie Jackson were two of the First Team All-Pros in this defense, and the addition of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix makes the defensive backs even better.
Barring bad injury luck, I’d be stunned if the Bears defense wasn’t a top five unit again in 2019. There is so much talent on this roster that I don’t see a decline.
Prediction
Although the kicking situation could rear its ugly head once again, the Bears are too good to not make the playoffs. Trubisky should be better in his third season in the league, and he has some real weapons to work with in Miller and Trey Burton. I think Chicago has incredible value to win the Super Bowl, so it’s no surprise that I believe the Bears will easily cruise to a playoff berth.
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