Aug 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach John Fox (left) talks with general manager Ryan Pace (right) prior to a preseason NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mike “Boomer” Burzawa (6-10)
It’s going to be a rough start to the season. The team will be adjusting to new systems on both sides of the ball which always takes some time to settle in. The schedule makers didn’t do the Bears any favors starting them off with games against the Packers, Cardinals and a trip to Seattle. It’s hard for me to find many wins for the Bears before their Week 7 BYE. When you consider the Raiders are expected to be improved and they round out their unofficial first half with road games against the Chiefs and Lions, I think it’s quite possible they’re 1-5 at the break.
The second half of the season shows some promise. By then, the team should be starting to gel and the schedule eases up a bit. I expect the Bears’ best stretch to be back to back home games against the 49ers and Redskins. The second half also features both of the Bears prime time games – a Monday night trip to San Diego and a Thanksgiving night visit to Green Bay.
This Bears team won’t implode like the 2014 unit did; John Fox and his top-flight coaching staff won’t allow it. The Bears show improvement late in the season and build momentum for a breakthrough season in 2016. The Bears won’t be a playoff team in 2015, but they’re certainly not as bad as USA Today projects them to be.
Mike Flannery (7-9)
After a rough start to the season (3-8) the Bears young players start to improve, the team becomes more comfortable with the new schemes in places, and the Bears finish the season on a high note winning 4 of their last 5 games. Of course this ruins their draft pick, but it also provides momentum going into the 2016 season.
Dan Schmelzer (6-10)
Aug 22, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback
Jay Cutler(6) yells out instructions against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
I am not seeing any sort of surprises out of the Bears this season. The coaching staff in place is legitimate, and I do like some of the talent on the team, but it would take a huge season out of Cutler for them to turn it around so quickly.
Derek Hanfland (5-11)
5-11 seems about right, but I could see it going worse and that’s not necessarily a bad thing as it represents a firm press of the reset button. I think the Bears and us fans need to take a long term approach with this thing and expect the requisite growing pains along the way. This is going to be a trying year, no doubt, and my hope is we’ll be able to identify some young talent in 2015 who can play key roles in coming seasons as the team seeks to regain relevancy.
Andrew Poole (5-11)
I keep trying to talk myself into a 7-9 or 8-8 scenario, but I just don’t see it. The schedule’s too tough, the offensive line, inside linebackers and secondary are weak, and the division is brutal. I’ve given them wins at home against the Vikings and Lions, predictions in which I have no confidence in. I can easily see a record worse than 5-11. At least the draft slot will be good.
Next: Some more optimistic (mostly) predictions