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The Chicago Bears have to be better than they were a year ago, don't they?
The Bears were a last-place team in the NFC North with a 3-14 record, and last year's struggles led to a position of honor in the offseason. The Bears were awarded the No. 1 pick in last April's draft, and because they had their quarterback of the present and future in Justin Fields, they were able to trade that selection for an accomplished player and a number of draft picks.
There is a ton of pressure flowing throughout the organization. The idea that Bears fans will tolerate another brutal season is beyond expectations. The Bears don't necessarily have to make the playoffs, but if they can approach the .500 mark, significant progress will be made.
Head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles basically got a pass last year since it was their first season on the job at Halas Hall. This year, they must be competitive most weeks, or the critics will come down hard on the team's leadership.
There is an overall confidence surrounding the organization, but getting off to a good start against the arch rival Green Bay Packers is essential. The Bears have been devastated by the Packers for nearly 30 years behind quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, and the Bears have to do a better job against new Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
Here are 4 predictions for the season.
Justin Fields will improve his his passing numbers and maintain his production as a runner
Fields proved to be a brilliant running quarterback a year ago when he came though with the remarkable total of 1,143 yards, and a shocking 7.1 yards per carry average. Actually, the numbers look shocking on paper, but those who watched Fields with any regularity figured out the quarterback's game plan quickly.
When Fields gets into the open field, there is no catching him. He is regularly the fastest runner on the field and he can run away from defenders.
That is not going to change in the 2023 season. He may not run quite as often, but when he does, it will be an effective play for the Bears.
The key for the third-year quarterback is to show improvement as a passer. He certainly has the arm strength, and getting the ball downfield is not a problem for him. However, timing and touch on short- and medium-range passes are the issues.
Fields must recognize what opposing defenses are giving him as he reads the play pre-snap. Once he does that, he should be quite productive.
One other aspect that could help Fields is the level of competition within the NFC North. The Packers have a decent defense, ranking 17th last year. However, the Vikings and the Lions ranked 31st and 32nd, respectively a year ago. Fields should be able to expose them as he faces both teams twice.
D.J. Moore will provide explosive plays
In the first preseason game of the summer, D.J. Moore took a screen pass and went 62 yards for a touchdown.
The Bears are expecting big plays from Moore on a regular basis this season. They did not have a legitimate No. 1 receiver last year, and Moore has the speed, leaping ability and hands to make a major difference.
He caught 63 passes for 888 yards and 7 touchdowns last year with the Carolina Panthers, and that could be a good jumping off point for Moore this season with the Bears.
Tight end Cole Kmet will become a Pro Bowl player.
The Bears made some headlines this summer as they extended tight end Cole Kmet with a new contract. Many expected the Bears to wait to see the results of the season before giving Kmet a new deal, but Poles and Eberflus like what they have seen.
Cole Kmet signed a 4-year, $50 million contract with the Bears, and that includes an $8 million signing bonus. He also has more than $32 million in guaranteed money.
So, Kmet is set financially, and now he must continue what he started last year. He led the Bears with 50-544-7. The Bears are hoping that he can reach double figures in touchdowns and earn a spot in the Pro Bowl.
Yannick Ngakoue will give Chicago a semblance of a pass rush
One of the reasons the Bears were 3-14 last year was their inability to pressure opposing quarterbacks. They had 20 sacks as a team and that ranked 32nd — dead last — in the league.
The Bears added veteran pass rush Yannick Ngakoue late in the summer to help the pass rush. He had 9.5 sacks last year for the Indianapolis Colts and he will give the Bears at least some credibility in the pass rush department
