Entering the 2025 season, there is plenty to be optimistic about with the Chicago Bears, but there are plenty of ways to be pessimistic about the outcome of the year as well.
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson breathes new life into an offense that needed an overhaul on the offensive line and a development plan for quarterback Caleb Williams. Johnson's tough coaching mentality so far has been helping the franchise take a step in the right direction.
That appears to be the good news about the offense. As everyone knows, though, there's always something else that can creep in and ruin the whole season.
Bears have a best case and worst case scenario that can occur in 2025
CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin shared his best-case and worst-case scenarios for each NFL team. For Chicago, starting with the good news, the chemistry between Johnson and Williams could see early success.
"Ben Johnson meshes with Caleb Williams, unlocking the quarterback's gunslinging gifts while keeping him in check behind a much-improved front, and Chicago sneaks into the playoffs for the first time in five years."
Williams' statistics will show a solid season, with 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns, to just six interceptions. Where he struggled was making a decision on where to throw the football and taking sacks. A lot of the problems, too, were the offensive line struggles themselves as they surrendered an NFL-high 68 sacks.
Johnson had to work on similar aspects of that game with Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and turned him into one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL over the last few seasons. Williams is a work in progress that Johnson will have to coach up on making quick decisions and getting the ball out.
Since the best-case scenario is covered, let's now consider the worst-case scenario. Although a lot can seem bad about the roster, other rosters are more talented, and it shows in their grueling schedule.
"No amount of veteran blockers and weapons can keep Williams on schedule against a tough schedule; the former No. 1 pick proves a dangerous caretaker of both the ball and his body as the Bears finish last again."
The Bears have to face seven opponents that made the 2024 postseason. It doesn't help matters that three of them are in their division. Arguably, the toughest stretch of the schedule is from Week 8 until the end of the season. Here is who they have to face in that span:
- Week 8 at Baltimore Ravens
- Week 9 at Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 10 vs. New York Giants
- Week 11 at Minnesota Vikings
- Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 13 at Philadelphia Eagles (Friday)
- Week 14 at Green Bay Packers
- Week 15 vs. Cleveland Browns
- Week 16 vs. Green Bay Packers
- Week 17 at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday night)
- Week 18 vs. Detroit Lions
Read more: Packers' laughable attempt to replace Jaire Alexander will make Bears fans happy
There is a stretch there where five of the seven games are all on the road. Talk about a brutal way to try to close out the season for the Bears.
The good news is that the roster is in better shape than it has been over the last four years. Now it's about whether Johnson can put it all together for the Bears and get them back to the postseason.