...hopefully win it all!
Two years ago, I made a post detailing how the Bulls would make it to the ECF.
http://www.bgol.us/board/showthread.php?t=508997
This year, I am focusing my attention my beloved Chicago Bears. I explain in detail why the Bears will make it to the NCF Championship (at minimum) and win the Superbowl at maximum.
Last Season
The Bears were 7-3, winners of 5 straight, through game 10 when Jay Cutler got injured for the rest of the season. That is a 70% win percentage which averages out to 11 wins. It’s hard to play the “what if” game, but let’s look at their last 6 games, where they went 1-5.
The Bears lost to Oak 20-25 (on a Caleb Hanie pick 6 on a screen pass); to KC 3-10 where the game’s only touchdown occurred on a half-time hail mary; to Den 10-13 in OT where the Den Kicker hit two 60 yard FGs (also, Marion Barber failed to fall down and run out the clock and Barber fumble on a breakaway in OT); to Sea 14-38; to GB 21-35. The Bears beat Min 17-13.
Last Year’s Back-ups
Let’s look at last year’s back-ups. I am going to go out on a limb and assert that Jason Campbell is a better QB than Caleb Hanie, Michael Bush is a better RB than Marion Barber and Alshon Jeffrey is a better WR than Johnny Knox. Had these back-ups been on the team last year, I the Bears would have won the Oak, Den, and KC game, making them 11-5 and the 4th seeded NFC wild card.
With a Healthy Cutler
Let’s look at the 1st ten games from the 2011 season. The Bears were 7-3, averaging 26.8 ppg and scored 30+ points against 6 opponents: 30 vs ATL, 34 vs GB, 39 vs MIN, 30 @ PHI, 37 vs DET, 31 vs SD. This all occurred w/o a number 1 receiver and a subpar back-up RB to split the load w/ Forte.
Upgrades
The Bears upgraded at RB by signing Michael Bush and at WR by trading for Brandon Marshall. They upgraded back-up QB by adding Jason Campbell.
Defensively, they upgraded the pass rush by drafting 3rd down rusher Shea McClennin in the 1st round, the secondary by signing Kelvin Hayden at CB, and rush defense by trading for DT Brian Price.
2012 Schedule
Looking at the schedule, the Bears have one of the easier schedules in the league. They play the AFC South, NFC West, NFC North, CAR and PHI.
AFC South
TEN, IND & JAC will have a first or second year starter at QB and none of them are named Cam Newton or Andy Dalton.
HOU is a good team and will better offensively with a healthy A. Johnson & M. Schaub but I cannot consider a team improved when they lose the All-Pro OG, DE and LB.
(3-1 prediction, loss to HOU)
NFC West
SEA will start a rookie at QB; ARI, with the exception of Fitzy, does not have an starting caliber skill player on offensive and one the worst OL’s in the league; STL lacks explosion at the skill position and are bad on all three levels defensively; SF is a monster and will be the toughest game on the schedule.
(3-1 prediction, loss @SF)
NFC North
The Bears were 3-3 in the NFC North w/ Cutler missing two games. MIN did not make a significant upgrade, Khalil is struggling, and will not have a 100% AP until sometime after mid-season if at all. DET regressed by not addressing RB and they actually got worse in the secondary by cutting Berry. People, like to talk about Vick but Stafford is the most injury prone QB in the league.
GB regressed defensively by having to release bounty-gate DT A. Hargrove; LB D. Bishop is out for the year; they start a rookie at corner as Woodson has moved to safety; released tackles Clifton & Campbell and safety N. Collins. With that said, they were 15-1 and shouldn’t regress too much
(4-2 prediction, losses to @GB & @DET)
NFC Opponents
While Cam Newton looks will be much improved, the Bears beat CAR last year. Considering the Bears have made the more impactful upgrades so there should be additional separation between the team. Dallas is talented but their WR are hobbled, the TE is hobbled, the O-Line is bad as well.
(2-0 prediction)
Conclusion: Bears will be 12-4 w/ losses @GB, @DET, @SF and vs HOU. They will own the tie-breaker against GB and have the number 2 seed in the NFC. They’ll beat GB after the bye and get revenge by going to SF to win the NFC championship. They will beat NE in the Superbowl 28-24.
NFC Playoff predictions: Division Winners- SF (13-3), CHI (12-4), ATL (10-6), PHI (9-7) Wild Cards- GB (12-4), TB (9-7)
AFC Playoff Predictions- Division Winners- NE (13-3), Bal (11-5), Hou (11-5), Den (9-7) Wild Cards- PIT (9-7), BUF (9-7)
Two years ago, I made a post detailing how the Bulls would make it to the ECF.
http://www.bgol.us/board/showthread.php?t=508997
This year, I am focusing my attention my beloved Chicago Bears. I explain in detail why the Bears will make it to the NCF Championship (at minimum) and win the Superbowl at maximum.
Last Season
The Bears were 7-3, winners of 5 straight, through game 10 when Jay Cutler got injured for the rest of the season. That is a 70% win percentage which averages out to 11 wins. It’s hard to play the “what if” game, but let’s look at their last 6 games, where they went 1-5.
The Bears lost to Oak 20-25 (on a Caleb Hanie pick 6 on a screen pass); to KC 3-10 where the game’s only touchdown occurred on a half-time hail mary; to Den 10-13 in OT where the Den Kicker hit two 60 yard FGs (also, Marion Barber failed to fall down and run out the clock and Barber fumble on a breakaway in OT); to Sea 14-38; to GB 21-35. The Bears beat Min 17-13.
Last Year’s Back-ups
Let’s look at last year’s back-ups. I am going to go out on a limb and assert that Jason Campbell is a better QB than Caleb Hanie, Michael Bush is a better RB than Marion Barber and Alshon Jeffrey is a better WR than Johnny Knox. Had these back-ups been on the team last year, I the Bears would have won the Oak, Den, and KC game, making them 11-5 and the 4th seeded NFC wild card.
With a Healthy Cutler
Let’s look at the 1st ten games from the 2011 season. The Bears were 7-3, averaging 26.8 ppg and scored 30+ points against 6 opponents: 30 vs ATL, 34 vs GB, 39 vs MIN, 30 @ PHI, 37 vs DET, 31 vs SD. This all occurred w/o a number 1 receiver and a subpar back-up RB to split the load w/ Forte.
Upgrades
The Bears upgraded at RB by signing Michael Bush and at WR by trading for Brandon Marshall. They upgraded back-up QB by adding Jason Campbell.
Defensively, they upgraded the pass rush by drafting 3rd down rusher Shea McClennin in the 1st round, the secondary by signing Kelvin Hayden at CB, and rush defense by trading for DT Brian Price.
2012 Schedule
Looking at the schedule, the Bears have one of the easier schedules in the league. They play the AFC South, NFC West, NFC North, CAR and PHI.
AFC South
TEN, IND & JAC will have a first or second year starter at QB and none of them are named Cam Newton or Andy Dalton.
HOU is a good team and will better offensively with a healthy A. Johnson & M. Schaub but I cannot consider a team improved when they lose the All-Pro OG, DE and LB.
(3-1 prediction, loss to HOU)
NFC West
SEA will start a rookie at QB; ARI, with the exception of Fitzy, does not have an starting caliber skill player on offensive and one the worst OL’s in the league; STL lacks explosion at the skill position and are bad on all three levels defensively; SF is a monster and will be the toughest game on the schedule.
(3-1 prediction, loss @SF)
NFC North
The Bears were 3-3 in the NFC North w/ Cutler missing two games. MIN did not make a significant upgrade, Khalil is struggling, and will not have a 100% AP until sometime after mid-season if at all. DET regressed by not addressing RB and they actually got worse in the secondary by cutting Berry. People, like to talk about Vick but Stafford is the most injury prone QB in the league.
GB regressed defensively by having to release bounty-gate DT A. Hargrove; LB D. Bishop is out for the year; they start a rookie at corner as Woodson has moved to safety; released tackles Clifton & Campbell and safety N. Collins. With that said, they were 15-1 and shouldn’t regress too much
(4-2 prediction, losses to @GB & @DET)
NFC Opponents
While Cam Newton looks will be much improved, the Bears beat CAR last year. Considering the Bears have made the more impactful upgrades so there should be additional separation between the team. Dallas is talented but their WR are hobbled, the TE is hobbled, the O-Line is bad as well.
(2-0 prediction)
Conclusion: Bears will be 12-4 w/ losses @GB, @DET, @SF and vs HOU. They will own the tie-breaker against GB and have the number 2 seed in the NFC. They’ll beat GB after the bye and get revenge by going to SF to win the NFC championship. They will beat NE in the Superbowl 28-24.
NFC Playoff predictions: Division Winners- SF (13-3), CHI (12-4), ATL (10-6), PHI (9-7) Wild Cards- GB (12-4), TB (9-7)
AFC Playoff Predictions- Division Winners- NE (13-3), Bal (11-5), Hou (11-5), Den (9-7) Wild Cards- PIT (9-7), BUF (9-7)
