Former Super Bowl Champion Exec Sees Bears In the Playoffs

Gil Brandt is a legend inside the football business. He started his career as an executive back in 1955. He's seen the game grow by leaps and bounds since then, enjoying a great run of individual success. In that time he was one of the principal architects of the great Dallas Cowboys teams in the late 1960s through the 1970s. His two Super Bowl rings are a testament to his exploits. Since leaving the front office in 1989 he's been a senior analyst for the league. So imagine hearing the idea of a Chicago Bears playoff run coming from him. Brandt decided to comb through the NFL looking for what he considers the "scariest" good and bad units. Among the good were the Chiefs receiving corps and the Rams offensive line. However his top spot was reserved for none other than the Bears defensive front seven. He believes GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox have assembled a talented and dynamic group. One that is emerging as arguably the best in the league. Their 21 sacks rank fourth overall and they're also 11th against the run. It's a young, hungry and aggressive group. One that Brandt thinks can carry the team far this year. All the way into January even.

Brandt sees Chicago Bears playoff trip happening sooner than later

"John Fox wins everywhere he goes, and I can see this defensive front pushing Chicago to the postseason. I don't know if the unit is good enough to ensure a victory once the Bears get there -- you still need strong quarterback play to succeed in the playoffs, and that's a question mark with rookie Mitchell Trubisky under center -- but Floyd and Co. have this team ahead of schedule. One thing is certain: You don't want to look up on offense and see these guys lined up across from you."

The Bears have navigated the fifth toughest schedule in the NFL to this point through seven games. Most predicted they might get two wins if they were lucky. They already have three with a chance to reach the bye week at .500 with a victory in New Orleans. After that the schedule appears to lighten up. Five of their final eight games will be against opponents who are averaging 20 points or fewer on offense. This could mean a big second half of the season for the Bears defense. That isn't including a Green Bay Packers team that won't have Aaron Rodgers available. If they continue to run the football well and get even halfway decent play from Trubisky, this team may begin their window of playoff contention far sooner than expected.