GM Ryan Pace did a ton of work this offseason. Everything within his power to make the Chicago Bears better than the team that finished 2019. No doubt this was the case since failure to win in 2020 could end up costing him his job. What everybody wants to know is was it enough? The NFL schedule is set to come out on May 7th. Chicago will know what exactly they're up against at that point. However, some people don't need to wait that long.
Mike Clay is an analyst for ESPN known for his expertise in numbers. He ran full projections for the upcoming season, determining the likely final records of every team, who makes the playoffs, and who are picking high in the 2021 draft. His assessment of the NFC North? A dogfight. Minnesota was predicted to squeak out the title with a 9-7, barely edging out the Packers. The big shocker though was he had the Bears finishing last in the division at 6-10.
Based on this assessment, it's clear Clay has no faith in the Bears offense. They're projected to score 309 points, which averages out to 19.31 per game. While that would be an improvement on last season, it won't be enough to support a defense that Clay thinks will still be good but not great.
Chicago Bears just seem too talented to finish that poorly
What's frustrating about this is the projections don't provide any details. He doesn't back up his numbers with an explanation. The truth is it's hard to imagine this Bears team being 6-10 bad. There is just too much talent on the roster to accept that. Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, and Kyle Fuller remain in place on defense. Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, and Akiem Hicks will all be healthy. They'll be joined by Robert Quinn who had 11.5 sacks last season. One could argue this defense looks better on paper than the one from last year.
Offensively? One can understand a certain degree of skepticism. Still, they added Nick Foles at quarterback. While not having the most consistent NFL career, the 31-year old has a history of playing some really strong football. Especially in this type of offensive system under Matt Nagy. Pace also upgraded the tight end position with Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet. An area that severely hampered the team in 2019. Last but not least, rookie Darnell Mooney and veteran Ted Ginn Jr. add much-needed speed at wide receiver.
Nobody is saying this offense will suddenly set the world on fire, but it should be better. Enough to crack the playoffs? Sure, if the roster can stay healthy but 8-8 feels like their floor.
