Dec. 13 GREEN BAY, noon, FOX

The Pack head to Soldier Field to start the 4th quarter of the season.  The Bears edged one out in the opener but I think the Packers steal one at Soldier Field.  Somehow, I just see these teams splitting during the regular season.  Packers 27-23.  L

Dec. 20 at Baltimore, noon, FOX

The Ravens overachieved in ’08 and I think their young quarterback Joe Flacco and aging defense head back down toward mediocrity in ’09.   The Bears find a way to get it done on the road.  Bears 20-12.  W

Dec. 28 MINNESOTA, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

The Bears look to avenge their earlier loss at Minnesota to close out the Monday Night Football schedule as the Vikes roll into Soldier Field.  No annoying Viking Horn means no annoying Viking win.  Bears 20-16.  W

Jan. 3 at Detroit, noon, FOX

Come on, it’s the freakin’ Lions!  Can I even consider ending the season on a losing note?  Only if they have a BYE week locked up.  Somehow, I don’t think it will be that easy.  Bears end the regular season with an easy win.  Bears 44-17.  W

So I’ve got the Bears going 12-4 and capturing the division crown.  Obviously they’ve got to stay healthy and the defense needs to step it up, especially in the secondary, but they have the team that will get it done.   The last time the Bears went to the Super Bowl, they took Grossman to the Super Bowl.  In fact, they went in spite of him; now they’ve got a quarterback that will take the team there.

Jay Cutler not only changes the face of the  offense, but he will allow the defense to operate differently.  They get to take more risks and don’t have to feel like if they let up a score that the team cannot recover.  If Cutler and the offense can sustain some drives, the D gets to take some extended breathers and bring the heat on fresh legs.

All this prognosticating makes for some interesting discussion, but the real fun starts on Sunday when the pads start popping when the Bears invade Lambeau.  Let’s go Bears!

BEAR DOWN!!!

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Oct. 18 at Atlanta, 7:20 p.m., NBC

The Bears head back to prime time and back to Atlanta where they suffered a heart wrenching loss at the hands of Matt Ryan.  I think Ryan will suffer a bit of a sophomore slump and the Falcons take a step back in 2009.  This will be a tough game, but with an extra week to prepare (with the BYE the week before), I think the Bears turn the tables on the Falcons.  Bears 24-23.   W

Oct. 25 at Cincinnati, noon, FOX

Lots of pundits are predicting a bounceback season for the Bengals.  Don’t count me among them.  I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a Hard Knocks curse, but even if there isn’t, the Bengals just aren’t that good.  Palmer and Ochocinco might be a challenge for the Bears defense, but Cinci doesn’t have the defense to contain Jay Cutler and the Bears.  Bears 34-27.   W

Nov. 1 CLEVELAND, noon, CBS

This game will take place on the 10th anniversary of Walter Payton’s death, not that the Bears need the extra motivation.  The Browns just aren’t that good at football.   Bears 24-13.    W

Nov. 8 ARIZONA, noon, FOX

As Bears fans know all too well, it’s tough get back to the playoffs after losing the Super Bowl the season before.  The Cardinals struggled during the preseason and that will carry over into the regular season.  Kurt Warner shows his age and the Cards struggle on the road.  Bears 26-17.  W

So I have the Bears going 4-0 in this next stretch.  The game at Atlanta presents a challenge, but aside from that, this is the part of the schedule when the Bears need to start building some momentum as they head into a challenging 3rd quarter of the season.

BEAR DOWN!!!

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Sept. 13 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m., NBC

The start of a new era in Chicago Bears football will be on display for a national audience. I think this one will be a shootout thanks to Cutler for the Bears and the banged up secondary.  Matt Forte will find some running lanes and gives the Bears a slight edge.  Bears 27-24.  W

Sept. 20 PITTSBURGH, 3:15 p.m., CBS

The defending champs boast a killer defense and an offense that just gets it done.Cutler will be under tons of pressure and the home fans go home disappointed.  Steelers 16-14.  L

Sept. 27 at Seattle, 3:05 p.m., FOX

The Seahawks expect to bounce  back after a disappointing 2008, but Cutler and Forte prove too much for the Seattle defense.  Bears 31-23.  W

Oct. 4 DETROIT, noon, FOX

The Lions were historically bad in 2oo8; like 0-16 bad.   If they can win a couple of games, the season will be a success.  Don’t count on it this week.  Bears 37-17.  Big W

So I project the Bears to wind up the first quarter 3-1.  It’s a nice start and a softer portion of the schedule ahead.

BEAR DOWN!!!

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