Building Confidence: The Importance Of Early Wins For the 2023 Chicago Bears

Thinking back to the 2018 season. Matt Nagy was a first-year head coach. Mitch Trubisky was the starting quarterback. The Bears had finished dead last in the NFC North in 2017 and had to open the 2018 season at Green Bay in prime time.

Trubisky led the offense down the field on their first possession to everyone's surprise and struck first. They actually built a 20-0 lead before a dramatic comeback by the Packers gave them the win. No one expected to see the Bears be that competitive in week one. That game gave Chicago confidence. They won eight of their next ten games. They only lost once in their last ten games, finishing with a 12-4 record and a first-place finish in the NFC North, something they had not accomplished since 2010.

In 2023, the Bears will again begin the year facing Green Bay, and like in 2018, they are coming into the new season after finishing last in their division the preceding year.

The Bears are in a unique position. While most believe the Bears will be a better team, there are mixed feelings about how much improvement we will see. Predictions range anywhere from a 4-13 record to double-digit wins. To avoid another season of 10+ losses, beginning the season by winning a few early games will be imperative.

Winning Early Breeds Confidence

This is a young team, and learning to win in the NFL is difficult. Last year, despite their record, the Bears won 3 of their first seven games and were competitive most of the year. This season, a confident QB enters the year with a talented core of receivers and running backs not seen in Chicago for ages. Fields is in his second year under the guidance of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and has a totally revamped line to protect him.

The Bears can serve notice to the NFC North and the rest of the NFC with a convincing win at home vs Green Bay in week one. Their game in Kansas City in Week 3 is the toughest game early, but the Chiefs game is sandwiched by winnable games against Tampa (week 2) and Denver (week 4). Playing in Tampa in mid-September is better than traveling to southern Florida later in the season, and the hot, humid Chicago summer will have the team better equipped to handle the weather.

The Bears have a decent shot at a 3-1 start. Even at 2-2, the stench of nine straight losses to finish last year would be gone.

News and Notes

Justin Fields has been working with receivers during the break. One of the participants has been Darnell Mooney. Mooney looks ripped and ready to go when training camp begins in 12 days.

After several municipalities have now expressed interest in bringing the Bears and a new stadium to their cities, all has been quiet at Halas Hall. We can expect an update at the opening of training camp when Warren meets with the media at that time.