3 bold predictions for the Chicago Bears 2022 season
The Chicago Bears will boast the league’s best rushing attack
David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert have the potential to become one of the league’s premier backfield duos this season. Montgomery is entering a contract year and will be eager to show the new regime he can fit in the new offense, which will heavily utilize the outside-zone attack. The new coaching staff reportedly wanted to wait to see how he would perform in the new scheme before committing to him long-term, but his tenacious running style should make him effective regardless of how well he fits the offense.
Khalil Herbert showed he can carry the load in Monty’s absence last season, and he will have the benefit of being locked down through 2024, as the team might want to see if they can move forward with him as the starter next year. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon became one of the best backfield tandems in the league under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy in Green Bay last year, and it would not be surprising to see the Bears deploy a similar formula for their talented backfield.
The talented duo up north put up over 1600 yards on the ground and an additional 700 through the air last year, and those types of numbers are attainable for the Chicago Bears in 2022. Chicago will have to lean on the ground game to find consistent success this year, as an effective running game could help their unproven pass-catchers find room in the play-action passing game.
Due to a lack of game-breaking talent at the receiver position, Justin Fields might be a year away from truly establishing himself as one of the league’s best passers. However, he can be a lethal weapon using his legs, which adds another element to the Bears’ offense. He had 420 yards on the ground last year without a creative offensive mind calling the plays. Now that Getsy is at the helm, Fields could take off and become one of the best dual threats in the league.
The team’s revamped offensive line is another factor that could lead to more success on the ground in 2022, as the Chicago Bears added two new starters this offseason and finally found the right position for Teven Jenkins to succeed. There is no telling how much better they can become if they continue to grow together, and it would not be shocking to see them pave the way for the top-ranked rushing offense in football this season.