Well the draft is over. It's unlikely any further changes of major significance will take place on the roster this year. Thus the Chicago Bears 2017 schedule can be properly dissected because this is the team they plan to assault it with. All the while asking the big question everybody wants to know. Can they improve from their 3-13 debacle last year, and if so by how much? Suffice to say the confidence from the outside world is at rock bottom. After what happened in 2016 and then to see them come away with just five draft picks? They're doomed. That's all there is to say about it. Of course it's never as simple as that in the NFL. So many factors are in play for what the Bears can or will accomplish. Many of them out of their control. Injuries of course being a giant one. A few fortunate breaks here and there might change the entire complexion of things. It really can be that simple. So with that said here is a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of how the Bears will do in 2017.

FIRST QUARTER

Week 1 vs. Atlanta Falcons

It's easy to see this game and just throw the hands up in the air. Really? The NFC champions right out of the gate? Totally unfair. Maybe, maybe not. There are a few things to keep in mind here. First, the Super Bowl hangover is real and the Falcons are dealing with a doozy. Second, they just lost Kyle Shanahan who crafted their history-making offense. Last but not least? Mike Glennon saw their defense up close as a member of the Buccaneers the past two seasons. Prepare for a shock. Result: Win

Week 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bears were humbled in a big way last year when the Buccaneers absolutely hammered them in Tampa Bay 36-10. Now they have to go right back down there. By all accounts their roster seems improved from last season as well. Certainly an intimidating thought. At the same time one can imagine Chicago is itching for a little revenge, and again the presence of Glennon might give them some extra advantages. Result: Win

Week 3 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Sometimes a team is just a bad matchup for another. On paper it certainly looks that way with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are a throwing team with superstar receiver Antonio Brown and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. To make matters worse they have Le'Veon Bell at running back and Martavis Bryant returning from a length suspension. That is a ton of firepower the Bears defense will have to contend with. Result: Loss

Week 4 at Green Bay Packers

From time to time the Bears just delight in making life difficult for Green Bay fans up at Lambeau Field. Last year was not the case as the Packers cruised to a 26-10 victory. Hopes are a healthier roster will help Chicago in this trip but it's still Aaron Rodgers. Beating him takes an almost perfect team effort for 60 minutes. That's not to say the Bears can't do it but unless the offense can put up points their lean-on-the-defense strategy won't work. Result: Loss  

SECOND QUARTER

Week 5 vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings always have trouble at Soldier Field. It's just sort of a thing between the two teams. It is hard to win on each others' home field. Last year proved that as the Bears soundly beat their purple rivals 20-10. That was the game Jordan Howard went from upstart rookie to emerging star. Minnesota would like people to think they're much improved from last year after an active free agency. Thing is Sam Bradford is still their quarterback. Result: Win [video width="400" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Jordan-Howard-Tears-Through-Vikings-Defense-for-153-Yards-Week-8-Highlights-NFL.mp4"][/video]

Week 6 at Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore is always a tough team to play. Having a great GM like Ozzie Newsome is a big reason why. They're strong on defense and play a tough, ball control offense. The trick is the Ravens are tougher at home. They were 6-2 in their home building last season with the two losses being by a combined seven points. Are the Bears ready to walk into that sort of hostile atmosphere and come out with a win? Not likely given their youth and inexperience. Result: Loss

Week 7 vs. Carolina Panthers

Don't be fooled by their rough 2016 season. This is still a good football team with a lot of top notch talent. Cam Newton at quarterback, Greg Olsen at tight end, Christian McCaffrey at running back, Luke Kuechly and Kawann Short on defense. It's a lot to contend with. The key matchup though may be in advantage to Chicago. Carolina has a weak offensive line, especially at the edges. The Bears, with their strong front seven, could take advantage. Result: Win

Week 8 at New Orleans Saints

Man, say this for the Saints. They sure know how to build an offense. Drew Brees is absolutely surrounded by playmaking talent. Michael Thomas is becoming a major receiving threat. His offensive line just absorbed another first round pick in tackle Ryan Ramczyk and now he has a trio of running backs in Mark Ingram, Adrian Peterson and Alvin Kamara. The Bears have to face that in the Superdome for four quarters? Man, that's tough. Result: Loss

THIRD QUARTER

Week 10 vs. Green Bay Packers

Look. Facts are facts. The Bears don't know how to win yet. The Packers do. Chicago hasn't beaten their bitter rivals at Soldier Field since 2010. Run that through the head again. It's been seven years since a Bears team actually won a home game against Green Bay. That is pitiful, depressing and reality all rolled into one. Maybe it finally changes this year but the odds are against it. The Packers are normally hard to beat during the second half of a season. Result: Loss

Week 11 vs. Detroit Lions

Before people start laughing, don't. Has everybody already forgotten that the Bears beat the Lions at home last year? They did it with Brian Hoyer at quarterback too. This should give them plenty of confidence to think they can do it again. It will be even later in the season this time around when the weather should play a greater factor. If the defense plays up to the level it did last season, and it can then this is a winnable game. Result: Win [video width="400" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Eddie-Royals-Huge-Catch-Sets-Up-Zach-Miller-TD-Lions-vs.-Bears-NFL.mp4"][/video]

Week 12 at Philadelphia Eagles

Ah the Alshon Jeffery reunion game. While the pay day was priority, one can bet part of the reason the receiver chose to join the Eagles for a year was they'd be playing the Bears. No doubt he'd love the chance to show his former team they made a big mistake not paying him. In truth the big problem in this game will be the Eagles defense, which gave Chicago fits early last season. Can they handle both it and that hostile Philly crowd? Result: Loss

Week 13 vs. San Francisco 49ers

Don't be fooled by people signing the praises of GM John Lynch. His job is far from finished. He didn't make that 49ers roster good. He made it less awful. By all accounts it's still a bad team who is prepared to role with Brian Hoyer as their quarterback. A Hoyer behind an offensive line that allowed 47 sacks in 2016 and his most productive receiver being a 31-year old Pierre Garcon. Kyle Shanahan may be a great offensive mind but even he can't make gold out of that. Result: Win

FOURTH QUARTER

Week 14 at Cincinnati Bengals

This has to be one of the most frustrating teams out there. At times they look unstoppable and others like a complete loss. The Bengals should've been in the playoffs last year but they flopped. Now people are wondering which team will show up in 2017. Will Marv Lewis once again rally in the nick of time to save his job? Perhaps, but it's clear enough Cincinnati has a much deeper and further developed roster than the Bears do. That should be the difference. Result:  Loss

Week 15 at Detroit Lions

By this time of year the writing should pretty much be on the wall. The Bears aren't going to the playoffs again, though they've at least managed to improve on their record from a year ago. Finishing strong sounds nice but in reality this is still a team very much in transition. They've kept it competitive the past few times they visited the Lions up in Detroit but haven't found a way to pull out the victory. Until the Bears can match the quarterback level of Stafford, that should continue. Result:  Loss

Week 16 vs. Cleveland Browns

In spite of another large influx of draft picks, the Cleveland Browns are still a pretty bad team. Take one look at their quarterback position to understand why. Chicago appears in much better shape at the position. How fitting would it be if the Bears chose to debut their #2 overall pick in Mitch Trubisky? The hometown guy Cleveland was hoping to get. It would make a certain sense. Get the rookie some playing experience and good odds of some confidence with a victory in his first appearance. Result:  Win

Week 17 at Minnesota Vikings

Each of the past two times that the Bears ended a season in Minnesota, it was fairly disastrous. They were hammered 38-10 last year and beaten 13-9 in 2014. This of course not counting the equally ugly 38-17 beat down they took in 2015. Suffice to say it's been a long time since Chicago was able to beat the Vikings on the road. With nothing to play for at this point, typically the talents on the roster shine through. Minnesota remains ahead in that regard. Result:  Loss

Final Record:  7-9