Part two of a four part schedule preview. The schedule softens up a bit after the initial a quick start, although it does include the first of two matchups against the NFL’s dirtiest team and media darling, the Detroit Lions. The Bears have decent odds to grab a victory at home, but the better test of their collective strength will come in Week 17 when they travel to Ford Field. The momentum that will come from the result of winnable games like these in the first half of the season will go a long way towards dictating the likelihood of success down the stretch.
Week: 5
Opponent: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Details: Even though it was his rookie season, Blaine Gabbert left a lot to be desired after his performance last season. Despite the inexperience and lack of weapons, patterns in Gabbert’s game raised some red flags for the future. Marcedes Lewis, who was considered the most reliable receiving option on the team going into training camp, went from ten receiving TD’s in 2010 to zero in 2011 under Gabbert. The lack of ability to recognize reliable options in the red zone and a timid pocket presence lead me to believe that the Bears will have no trouble with an inexperienced Jacksonville offense in the early part of the season. The defense is an underrated bunch that will keep the game from getting completely out of hand, but the offense will break through for some points as the game wears on. An easy task for the defense when they can stack their formations to shut down Maurice Jones-Drew.
Result: Win
Key To Victory: Offensive Consistency
Week: 6
Opponent: Bye Week
Details: When is the last time the Bears had a Bye before Week 8? 2009. Oh, I guess it hasn’t been that long.
Result: Boredom for fans, rest for players
Key To Success: Keeping Brandon Marshall at home
Week: 7
Opponent: vs Detroit Lions
Details: The Bears face off against the talented but troubled Lions in what will probably be the most anticipated game of the first half of the season. The predictions should be about even between the two teams for this meeting at Soldier Field, although there will probably still be some favoritism for Detroit because of their constant media presence. The reality is that the last year the Bears only lost by nine points at Ford Field despite playing terribly and then destroyed the Lions five weeks later by 24 points at home. If the Bears have made significant improvements on offense while the Lions have remained about the same, why can’t they win both matchups this season? Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall can perform as well as Matthew Stafford and Megatron when if they play up to standard, and the Bears have a significant edge in the running game and in the defensive secondary. Cutler will have a great chance to torch a group of defensive backs with little proven talent outside of Louis Delmas. The game should be relatively close, but the Bears take a character building win at home provided the safeties can prevent an excess of big plays.
Result: Win
Keys To Success: Jay Cutler and the Secondary
Week: 8
Opponent: vs Carolina Panthers
Details: The Bears face the Panthers at home for the second straight year, and if last year is any indication then it should prove to be an offensive thriller. Cam Newton is back from an outstanding rookie campaign with long threat Steve Smith and elusive running back DeAngelo Williams. The big improvement for this year’s Panthers will be improvement on defense, with stalwart linebacker Jon Beason returning from injury to join Thomas Davis and first round pick Luke Kuechly to form one of the best new linebacking trios in football. Last season the Bears benefited from 205 yards by Matt Forte, an early pick six by D.J. Moore, and a Devin Hester punt return but only won the game by five points. Why? Because Cam Newton torched the defense for 374 yards passing, and Jay Cutler played his worst game of the year. Newton made a defense that prides itself on tackling look like a Pop Warner team the way he was able to evade tackles and juke defenders. Unfortunately, Newton should only improve on those skills this year and could very well put up similar numbers if he can consistently evade pressure. The Bears may be better on paper, but they lose in a shootout at home here because of a poor defensive performance.
Result: Loss
Key To Success: Linebackers tackling and closing down the edges
Week: 9
Opponent: @ Tennessee Titans
Details: The Titans compiled the quietest winning record in the NFL last season after going 9-7, but that record isn’t exactly justified. Eight of those wins came over the Colts, Jaguars, Broncos (With Kyle Orton), Bucs, Bills, Browns, Panthers, and a Texans team resting most of their starters in Week 17. Not to say that this team doesn’t have some talent- a strong secondary lead by Michael Griffin and a resurgent season for Matt Hasselbeck should not be overlooked completely- but this is an extremely mediocre team that just lost star corner Cortland Finnegan to free agency, so the Bears should have little to worry about. It shouldn’t matter much who the starting quarterback is, because either Hasselbeck or Jake Locker will have had plenty of game action by Week 9, but it will be interesting to see which version of Chris Johnson will show up. If he can return to two thousand yard form once again, the game might be somewhat close. If not, the Bears should make quick work of an underwhelming defense that struggles to stop the run.
Result: Win
Key To Success: Defensive Tackles clogging the running lanes
Record After 9 Weeks: 6-2
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