How many wins do you have for the Bears

[emperorjones]

I have to say I'm rarely surprised at how much the national media comes down on the Bears. But this year it seems that at least half the picks I have seen have the Bears at 6-10 and the best I've seen is 8-8 and I have'nt seen a playoff prediction yet. What do you guys think of this and how many wins do you have?

[heir_jordan22]

I think we will go 4-2 in the division. When we play the good teams they could go either way. And I think we will lose one surprise game to a bad team.

We play five good teams outside of our division (Falocns, Saints, Buccaneers, Eagles, Chargers = 3-2 or 2-3). We play 5 pretty bad teams outside ofour division (4-1). And six division games (4-2).

That comes out to 10 or 11 wins. I would not be surprised with 9 wins and I would not be surprised with 12.

[WEFFPIM]

I think this team is capable of 10 wins. Truly. And that's coming from me, eternal pessimist.

[emperorjones]

^^ I know WEFFPIM, I have been surprised at how non-pessimistic you have been this offseason. What about the team has you in such a non-gloomy mood? I mean 10 wins?!?! Makes me feel like I'm less of a fan if I don't predict the Superbowl! LOL

[The Explorer]

I think its ridiculous. Everyone is saying they took a step back, but i'm not seeing how.

They got lucky last season with few injuries and 3rd string qb's, sure. But they also upgraded the offensive line at LT, RT, and C. Running backs are better, the WR's are either improved or lateral with the additional of Williams, but certainly not a step back. On defense, they are the same as last season, except possiblly a slight upgrade at FS and d-line.

2nd year under Mike Martz is a huge factor that keeps getting overlooked. Cutler and the receivers will be more more comfortable in their timing and their route running. The goal line offense will much sharper than last year with the addition of Barber, not to mention there are now TE's on the roster that can actually pick up blitzes.

Perhaps these experts are referring to a step back on special teams due to the new kickoff rule? Where did this team take a step back?

Atl - W
@No - L
GB - W
Car - W
@Det - L
Min - W
@Tam (London) - W
@Phi - L
Det - W
SD - L
@Oak - L
KC - W
@Den - W
Sea - W
@GB - L
@Min - W

Record: 10-6, Wild card playoff berth.

[WEFFPIM]

^^ I know WEFFPIM, I have been surprised at how non-pessimistic you have been this offseason. What about the team has you in such a non-gloomy mood? I mean 10 wins?!?! Makes me feel like I'm less of a fan if I don't predict the Superbowl! LOL

I like what I've seen from this offensive line, it's good enough to win games with. The defense will be there, maybe a bit of a slip from last year. It seems like no one is talking about Julius Peppers this year. Martz has the pieces he wants in this offense after a year of making-do, and Cutler was pretty damn good last year. The first part of the schedule is rough but I like the back half of it (like last year). I don't think they'll make the playoffs, keep that in mind. I think Dallas or Tampa will snag the last wild card spot. But this team hasn't really regressed from last year, if at all. They're good enough to win 10 games, nine at the least.

[Chewie]

I have us down for 9 wins but I think there's plenty of room to play devil's advocate and say we won't be as good as last year and may take a step back.

GB and Detroit, divisional teams we went 3-1 in the regular season last year improved more than we did. Lions get their franchise QB back and Packers get the billion players they had on IR in 2010 back.

And how exactly did we improve? We've got a better reserve RB (who's already injured), better reserve DTs, and some depth at safety with Patriots castoff Meriweather. Wow.

I'll argue our OL is still the weak point as I still don't see reason to be a believer in Webb and Louis. I like Carimi but he's a rookie after all. I know this is where I differ with many on the board but I still think Cutler's going to get his head handed to him this year (again).

Our best 2 receivers don't even start and I wonder how many games it will take the coaches to figure that out.

Our key players on defense are all 30+ and past their prime years :
Urlacher : 33
Briggs: 31
Peppers: 30
Tillman: 30

The new rules take away the kick return from the game and that's obviously been a strong point for us over the years.

We're getting old and I wouldn't blame a single critic that would say the down slide may start this year. I'll still go with 9 wins but 7 wouldn't shock me and it could mark the beginning of a big down turn. And Angelo isn't the guy you want manning your drafts to rebuild the team with high picks. Not at all.

[SportsWorld]

I see us starting 0-3 and finishing 7-9. This is not going to be a fun year.

[emperorjones]

.... I think there's plenty of room to play devil's advocate ....

Chewie=devil's advocate....or the devil himself?

In reality there is obvious room for debate and I think it will come down to the performance of the O-Line.

[Chewie]

.... I think there's plenty of room to play devil's advocate ....

Chewie=devil's advocate....or the devil himself?

In reality there is obvious room for debate and I think it will come down to the performance of the O-Line.

Well - I hate to say it but we are getting long in the tooth. You look at the Pack and they've got quality youth galore over there : Cobb (21), Finley (24), Flynn (26), Rodgers (still only 27), Matthews (25), Sherrod (22), Raji (25), Shields (23), Starks (25).

It's not going to get any easier....

[kyrv]

.... I think there's plenty of room to play devil's advocate ....

Chewie=devil's advocate....or the devil himself?

In reality there is obvious room for debate and I think it will come down to the performance of the O-Line.

Well - I hate to say it but we are getting long in the tooth. You look at the Pack and they've got quality youth galore over there : Cobb (21), Finley (24), Flynn (26), Rodgers (still only 27), Matthews (25), Sherrod (22), Raji (25), Shields (23), Starks (25).

It's not going to get any easier....

The Saints and Packers offenses scare the cr*p out of me, and oh we get Atlanta first.

I don't have a good feeling, it's the NFL, things can go south in a hurry. I don't know if they will get as fortunate with injuries two years in a row. I don't know if Martz is going to be first half Martz or second half (better) Martz when they made him call plays better.

Tough to say. I agree on the Packers, as much as it is hard to look long term in football, Packers have an incredible mix of talented players, many super young.

Bears have the best kick return of all-time, and play him...at receiver.

[emperorjones]

Bears have the best kick return of all-time, and play him...at receiver.

If the Bears didn't let Hester play receiver, 3 things would have happened:

1. Bear fans & the media would be saying how dumb and conservative the Bears were for not getting Hester more involved in the offense;

2. Hester would not have resigned with us because another team would have offered him starting receiver money to do what he wanted at the time - which was to play receiver; and

3. You would be saying how dumb the Bears were to let the best kick return of all-time get away just because they wouldn't play him...at receiver

[Cliff Levingston]

Bears have the best kick return of all-time, and play him...at receiver.

If the Bears didn't let Hester play receiver, 3 things would have happened:

1. Bear fans & the media would be saying how dumb and conservative the Bears were for not getting Hester more involved in the offense;

2. Hester would not have resigned with us because another team would have offered him starting receiver money to do what he wanted at the time - which was to play receiver; and

3. You would be saying how dumb the Bears were to let the best kick return of all-time get away just because they wouldn't play him...at receiver

Gotta agree with this. It's easy to second guess any decision when you're just in the recliner watching it. Go back to when Hester was a sophomore NFL player and considered the most dangerous man in the league with the ball in his hands and a little bit of room to run. There's no logical excuse for not wanting to see if you can't get that guy more involved in trying to help you win games.

[kyrv]

Bears have the best kick return of all-time, and play him...at receiver.

If the Bears didn't let Hester play receiver, 3 things would have happened:

1. Bear fans & the media would be saying how dumb and conservative the Bears were for not getting Hester more involved in the offense;

2. Hester would not have resigned with us because another team would have offered him starting receiver money to do what he wanted at the time - which was to play receiver; and

3. You would be saying how dumb the Bears were to let the best kick return of all-time get away just because they wouldn't play him...at receiver

Doesn't really make much sense for you to make up stuff I would say, especially when it's not true. You're much better than that. Come on now.

There was no reason to let him go whether he played receiver or not.

I wanted the Bears to pay him the equivalent money. This stupid thing of they can only pay him X as a returner is arbitrary made up BS. He impacts the games more in a positive way (i.e. has more value) as a returner.

And I'm actually more than fine he was tried at receiver. It had a negative impact on his returning, which Hester himself acknowledged. My comment is what do you do today. I never said or implied playing him at receiver was bad or a mistake. My comment was about what Lovie and the Bears are doing today.

Hester is a good receiver, but he's an all-time great returner. And his receiving affected his returning negatively.

tldr;

1) Bears could have played him equivalent money.

2) Playing him at receiver was fine, doesn't mean you have to keep him there if it would be better for the team if he just returns.

[emperorjones]

I am absolutely not better than that!

[MF Doom]

I see us starting 0-3 and finishing 7-9. This is not going to be a fun year.

I doubt it.

11-5.

[NZB2323]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrdL6earbM

[SportsWorld]

I thought we'd suck last year too so my opinion is worthless. Just saying.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

I see us with 11 wins this season. I'm still not afraid of the Packers, but I do respect their suberbowl winning team. We know how to play them better than any other NFL team does.

[emperorjones]

I have the Bears as a 10-12 win team this year. If they can start out 3-2 it will be 12.
But to put one number on it I say 11 wins.