3. Week 6
The Bears would have to be holding firm here, and talks would have to have picked up unless Chicago flat out beat Cleveland and LA. Still, the Bears could be 2-2 with wins over the Bengals and Lions entering week four. Dalton could be keeping them in it after tight losses to contenders.
Then, week five comes the Raiders. The Raiders’ loss in London felt like an unraveling a few years back and the Bears cannot relive that. This will be the ultimate test for Dalton. A loss to the Raiders, and even in a good start the Bears are 2-3. Nagy would have no other choice.
Even if Dalton beats the Raiders, the Bears have the Packers at home then at the Bucs the following two games. It would be throwing Fields into the flames, but the Packers game will make or break the team’s season. Nagy may be waiting for a 3-2 Bears team to throw a screwball at the Packers to try to steal the division game and get Justin Fields in there. If Dalton gets them to 3-2 it is a job well done.