Chicago Bears Start 2016 in the NFC North Cellar
The disappointing 23-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the season opener of the 2016 NFL season marked the first time since 2007 that the Chicago Bears have started a season at the bottom of the NFC North, while the rest of their divisional foes ended Week 1 with a victory. The Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings all won their Week 1 matchups in different fashions, and continue to show why they have been superior to the Bears in recent history.
Chicago jumped out of the starting blocks in Houston, ending the first half with a 14-10 lead. Unfortunately, a shaky offensive line and an inconsistent defensive secondary prevented the Bears from joining their division rivals in the 1-0 club. Looking at how Chicago played this past Sunday, versus how the Lions, Packers, and Vikings performed, the Bears could be looking at another tough year against the NFC North.
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Detroit surprisingly stood toe to toe with the Indianapolis Colts in their 39-35 victory, and did so without the recently retired Calvin Johnson. Quarterback Matthew Stafford finished the contest completing 31 of his 39 pass attempts for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Stafford’s numbers nearly matched Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, but that shouldn’t be a surprise, considering the fact that Indianapolis was 24th in pass defense in 2015.
The Packers was in a dogfight with the Jacksonville Jaguars from the opening whistle, but managed to leave the state of Florida with a 27-23 win. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had only 199 passing yards, but showed us why he’s Aaron Rodgers by throwing two spectacular touchdowns passes. It also didn’t hurt having wide receiver Jordy Nelson back in the mix.
As for Minnesota, seeing their offense stuck in neutral was expected, since quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is out for the season. Running back Adrian Peterson was targeted all afternoon, and only gained 31 yards rushing. It was actually the Vikings’ defense that carried them to the finish line. Two second-half defensive touchdowns were the highlights of Minnesota’s 25-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Coincidently, the Vikings’ defense scored as many points as the Bears’ offense did in Week 1.
Yes, it is early in the season, and it may be too soon to jump to conclusions. However, we must take into consideration that Chicago has won a combined four divisional games in the past three years. The last time Chicago actually had a winning record against their NFC North opponents was in 2010 (5-1), which was the last time the Bears won a divisional crown. As I mentioned earlier, the last time Chicago was the only team in the division with a 0-1 record to start the year, they finished that season as the cellar dweller of the NFC North.
All of this is being said simply because the Bears can’t afford to start the 2016 season not only winless, but at the bottom of one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. Chicago doesn’t start their divisional play until Week 4, when they will face the Lions at Soldier Field. Defensively, their front seven looks solid, and may have to pick up the slack for the injured and inexperienced secondary. Offensively, the only thorn in the Bears’ side seems to be the offensive line. Quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked five times by the Texans, and was hit several other times after the ball was released.
Patching up all of these holes will be a must if Chicago stands a chance against the Lions, Packers, and Vikings, and the rest of the NFC. If none of these issues are addressed appropriately and quickly, then look to see the Bears looking up from the bottom once again by season’s end.