Chicago Bears: 5 Hot takes on the Bears playoff chances, Khalil Mack, and more
By Evan Bruner
Chicago Bears Hot Take: The Bears are a playoff team
It’s funny how quickly things can change. Two weeks ago, I wrote about if the Bears finishing last in the division was a possibility. Now, after two wins against the Lions and the Raiders, the Bears sit at 3-2 and are in sole possession of second place in the NFC North. Chicago snuck into the playoffs as the seventh seed with a record of 8-8 last year, and they are looking to grab a wild card spot again.
The Bears have a tough schedule
The first thing that needs to be pointed out is the Bears came into the year with one of the toughest schedules in the league. Games against the Rams and Browns in the first few weeks were tough, but that’s not all the Bears need to worry about. They still have to face the Packers twice, as well as the Buccaneers, Ravens, and Cardinals. The challenging schedule leaves the Bears with little room for error.
The defense has stepped up
The one thing that should be very encouraging to Bears fans is how well the defense has played ever since Week 1. The Bears were able to ride their defense to the playoffs in 2018 and 2020.
With the emergence of Jaylon Johnson as well as the production from Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith, things are starting to fall into place for that to happen again. The ultimate question is if the defense can hold up well enough against the top teams in the league to make up for the offense.
Bottom line
The Bears still have a lot they need to prove to be a playoff team. They are going to have to win some tough games in these next few weeks, but there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic.