Chicago Bears 2016 Staff Predictions

Boomer: 8-8
I really didn’t want to fall into the 8-8 trap, but after running through their games a few different times, I couldn’t avoid it. The Bears have a chance to get off to a decent start after their season opener against the Houston Texans. They’ll face rookie quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott in consecutive prime-time dates before a divisional game against the Calvin Johnson-less Detroit Lions. I’ve got the Bears 3-1 after their first four games, an encouraging start.
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The second quarter of the season will present some challenges as the Bears travel to Indianapolis to face a Colts team looking to bounce back before coming home to host the improving Jacksonville Jaguars. A trip to face the always difficult Green Bay Packers before closing out the first half of the season at home against the Minnesota Vikings.
Following their Bye week, the Bears will travel to Tampa Bay and New York to face the Bucs and Giants. Both should be winnable games but I have a feeling they drop at least one of those, hopefully not the Tampa game, since I’ll be in attendance. The Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers will head to Soldier Field as Bear weather starts to move in.
The last quarter of the season will be a test for the Bears with three divisional games and a game against the improving Washington Redskins. It’s this stretch of games that will determine the Bears playoff fate. I have the Bears going 1-3 to close the season, limping to the finish line. If the Bears can rally and stay healthy, they could surprise some people and get to 9 or 10 wins, but I’m thinking 8-8 feels about right.
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