The Chicago Bears were in the playoffs in 2018 after going 12-4. Last year they finished 8-8 but with four wins in their final six games. One would think they’d get a little more respect in national circles as a team that can at least have a small window to the Super Bowl. Yet that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated took a survey of the NFL at present. In his estimation, there are 12 teams in total that will win the Super Bowl. It’s a lock. There are the obvious favorites like the reigning champion Chiefs, the Ravens led by MVP Lamar Jackson, and the 49ers who narrowly lost the big game back in February.
Yet the Tom Brady-less Patriots are also on the list. So are the Philip Rivers-less Los Angeles Chargers. Even the Buffalo Bills made it in at #12. Their reasoning?
“Why not? I think about some of the better defense-forward teams of the last 10 years who have stumbled into the playoffs with less raw power on offense than the Bills. This defense is seriously good, finishing second in DVOA behind only the Patriots in 2020. Their corner play is strong, their offensive line is developing and, maybe, perhaps, Josh Allen molds into something more than a player who needs to be game-planned around.”
Yet the Bears were nowhere to be found.
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Chicago Bears continue to get disrespected
It’s not hard to see where this negative stigma is coming from. Most of it is centered around the presence of Mitch Trubisky. As long as the failed #2 overall pick is on the roster, people refuse to buy into the Bears as a credible championship threat. This despite the team just traded for an actual former Super Bowl MVP in Nick Foles just a few months ago.
Then there is the defense. One that was already loaded up with All-Pro talents like Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, Akiem Hicks, and Kyle Fuller. Now they’ve added Robert Quinn to the mix as well. This is an elite unit that can dominate just about anybody when healthy.
Is it so crazy to think some competent quarterback play from Foles and a better ground game could put this team on a path to the dance? Apparently it is and that’s par for the course these days.