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Updated Bears schedule and realistic prediction for 2007:
Week 1 @ San Diego - Loss. The Bears caught a tough break in week 1 when the schedule makers decided they would face LT in San Diego on the Chargers home turf to open the season. Tough break indeed. This team is the total package, too, and this will be a dog fight. Arguably the two best defenses in the NFL squaring off, but reality is that the game is in San Diego and we don't have LT to go up against their awesome defense. Bears lose a close one and start the year 0-1.
Week 2 Kansas City - Win. The Bears will rebound to take on the Chiefs at home in week 2. Larry Johnson could be a hold out and if he is, this won't even be close. With Jared Allen out on suspension still, Dwayne Bowe late getting to camp, and no experience at QB for this team, the Chiefs are outmatched in Chicago in week 2. Bears move to 1-1.
Week 3 Dallas - Win. Dallas comes to Chicago for a Sunday night matchup I'm seriously looking forward to. The return to Illinois of Tony Romo won't be a pleasant one. The Bears bring everything they've got at Romo to try and force turnovers and contain the 1-2 punch of Barber and Jones. On Defense, the Cowboys are improved, but I don't feel they are as improved as the Bears on offense. Turnovers could sway this call, but I say Bears win and move to 2-1.
Week 4 @ Detroit - Win. Detroit could be an improved team this year and luckily the Bears get them on the road early on. After about half a season, with a healthy Kevin Jones and Tatum Bell, a plethora of freakishly huge and talented receivers, and a QB that threw for over 4,000 yards last year, this Mike Martz offense could take a major step in the right direction. I think this game is closer than it should be, but the Bears offense wins the day and they move to 3-1.
Week 5 @ Green Bay - Win. If its going to a road game against Green Bay, I'd rather it be in the Fall. This Sunday night matchup pits Favre against the Bears for what has got to be his final hurrah against them in Lambeau. Favre has lost too much, will have little to no established running game at this point in the year, may not have Driver (didn't pass his physical yet), and still has a young, but much improved defense. They aren't ready to challenge the Bears yet and they lose this one. Bears move to 4-1.
Week 6 Minnesota - Win. The division is what the division is. The Bears will get serious dose of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, primarily because that's all the Vikings have got. Tavarius Jackson is horrendous and will probably cost them more games than he wins them. But if the Vikings can establish the run, this could be closer than it should be. The Vikings defense has names, but they're overrated. The Bears should take this one at home and move to 5-1.
Week 7 @ Philadelphia - Loss. Call this one the Donovan McNabb game because if he's there, I think we lose. If he's not, then we win. The guy has played one full season in the last five, so who knows, but giving the Bears a shot at a rookie QB would be a bad day in that rookie's eyes. McNabb is still a stud when he's healthy and while he won't be as mobile, he should've shaken the rust off by this point. Scatty RB's like Westbrook could prove challenging for the Bears and the Eagles defense will be tough again. On the road, sorry Rick. I think you're likely to be attending a loss. Bears are now 5-2.
Week 8 Detroit - Win. The Lions come calling to Chicago this time, looking for a bit of revenge for an early season loss. The combination of Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson should be gelling at this point and even a vaunted Bears defense could struggle to stop them if they can't get pressure on Kitna. If the Lions running game is in tip top shape, I think the Bears will be challenged by the underdog Lions. Their offense's ability to move the ball on the Lions defense is key and the Bears win another close one, moving to 6-2 at the halfway point.
Week 9 @ Oakland - Win. After enjoying a week off to rest and recuperate, the Bears will roll into Oakland, who may have a rookie QB at the helm at this point, a shoddy piecemeal running game featuring three has-been backs, and WR's that don't want to be there. Oh, and an offensive line among the worst in football. The defense is no prize in Oakland, but will be the only think keeping them in ball games unless JaMarcus pulls out a cape. Bears should roll the Raiders in Oakland, who could be the worst team in the league again. They are now 7-2.
Week 10 @ Seattle - Loss. Another game that comes down to health. If you are facing a healthy Seahawk team including Hasselback and Alexander, as well as a Deion Branch understanding the system, the Seahawks could be tough again. Everyone is waiting for this team to fall on its face and its not going to happen this year. The Seahawks will be tough to beat at home in the mid November on national television. The Bears move to 2-1 on primetime for the year and drop to 7-3.
Week 11 Denver - Win. I have played with this in my head quite a bit. This could be one of the toughest games of the year. The Bears will face a vastly improved Jay Cutler, a solid running game led by a powerful Travis Henry, and a formidable WR corp led by Javon Walker. The Broncos defense will be among the best in the League and this game could easily go either way. The Bears have to prove they can play with the best in the AFC and home field advantage will go along way on a cold, November afternoon. Bears slip by and win moving to 8-3.
Week 12 New York Giants - Win. The Giants are overrated this year. The loss of Tiki will be huge. They will put together a punishing running game this year with two large backs, but their top receivers are both punks and their QB is a whiny, little baby. I do not hold this team in high regard and see an 8-8 or 9-7 ball club that could back into the playoffs. In Chicago, the Bears should trounce them and I hope its embarrassing. Bears move to 9-3.
Week 13 @ Washington - Win. The Bears will battle the Redskins on FedEx Field in front of 80,000+ on a Thursday night nationally televised matchup. Daniel Snyder won't be able to buy a victory this time as the Bears will bring it at Jason Campbell until he can't see straight. The Redskins will have to rely on the two headed monster of Ladell Betts and Clinton Portis to stay in the ball game because their receivers are over hyped and overpaid. The 'Skins defense will be average and the Bears will hit double digits, moving to 10-3.
Week 14 @ Minnesota - Win. The Bears will battle the Vikings in the Metrodome and as long as Tavarius is at the helm, they will lose. Peterson and Taylor will try and pound them into contention, but ultimately, the Bears defense should bend but not break to another victory as the Bears move to 11-3 at Soldier Field. The Bears only slotted Monday nighter, by the way.
Week 15 Green Bay - Win. Finally, could it be? Brett Favre's last game against the Chicago Bears? The Pack aren't going to the playoffs this year and Randy Moss wouldn't have changed that any. With two full games and probably a first round bye in front of them, the Bears won't pull their starters this time. Not until they establish a commanding lead. Maybe you'll see a taste of Aaron Rodgers here at some point, but either way, the Bears roll and move to 12-3.
Week 16 New Orleans - Loss. Why? Because at 12-3, the Bears probably won't have much left to play for unless they are battling New Orleans for Home Field. I don't think that will be the case, so I'm saying that a group consisting of primarily backups loses this one at home to the Saints and the Bears roll into the playoffs with about two weeks of rest for their starters. Bears fall to 12-4.
Bye
Divisional Round - Philadelphia - Win. The rematch takes place on a cold and blustery mid-January day at Soldier Field. The Eagles come calling after knocking off the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round. McNabb may be healthy, but a worn down Eagle ball club will try and take the NFC crown from a well rested and energetic Chicago Bear group, hungry for another Super Bowl appearance. The Bears defense punishes the Eagles offense in the freezing cold conditions and our offense uses a quick strike passing attack to move the ball into scoring position on every other drive. The Bears win handily for a playoff game, advancing to the NFC Championship for the 2nd consecutive year.
NFC Championship - New Orleans - Win. After a win against a tough Dallas team that had upset the Seahawks in the opening round, the New Orleans Saints clamor back for revenge against a Chicago Bear team in Soldier Field. Despite having lost the Saints on a meaningless final game of the year, the Bears feel like they are the better team, but the Saints have a few extra tricks up their sleeve. Another year in the system for Reggie Bush and the 400 offensive weapons the Saints will come to play with means this game won't come easy. The Bears will dominate for most of the game, but big plays will keep the Saints in the ball game. It will all come down to a freezing cold Sunday evening FG by Robbie Gould with 1:15 to go that will put the game out of reach and give the Bears and insurmountable 9 point lead. The Saints will try and pull off a miracle, but they are fresh out as the Bears advance to the Super Bowl for another shot at the Title.
Super Bowl - New England - Win. The Bears will square up for a rematch of Super Bowl XX. Amusingly, they will probably be the underdog this time due to their weak Conference and despite having the most feared defense in the NFL and a top 10 offense. The Patriots come into the game with high expectations after a season of acquisitions expected to make Belicheck's' possible swan song a sweet one. The Patriots will try and spread the Bears defense out use short range passing and Maroney pounding inside to move the ball. They will be unlikely to make many mistakes and will rely on the Bears stopping their momentum as their only offensive weakness. On Defense, they are just as stout, and with Asante Samuel back on the field, they are capable of playing with any offense in the league. This game will just come down to heart and the Bears have it this year and the Patriots don't. Tom Brady has been here so many times before that the game lacks the magic for him. Randy Moss has always been heartless and that feeling will permeate through that team despite their propensity for winning football games. While Rex is no Tom Brady, is improved consistency has led him to the best season in Bears history and there's only one way to cap it all. The Bears force turnover after turnover and ultimately wind up destroying the Patriots by 20+ points to win their 2nd Super Bowl.
I'm spent...
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Good stuff. That's a tough act to follow but I won't give any regular season predictions until the last preseason game. The Bears will win the SB though and of course Rex will be our quarterback.
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