Time for Chicago Bears to Plan for Next Season
By Clyde A. Speller
@ClydeASpeller
Getty Images
After their huge offensive numbers from last year, and the defensive additions over the offseason, many thought that the Chicago Bears were primed to make a run for the playoffs. Well, 10 weeks into the 2014 NFL season, it’s safe to say that the Bears are light years away from what everyone expected of them. Furthermore, we can say that their season is over.
Chicago started the year on a sour note with a defeat to the Buffalo Bills on opening day, but comforted Bears fans with upset wins against the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons. However, that joy was short-lived.
Following their last victory, Chicago has lost their last three contests, with the last two being in the most embarrassing fashion. In Week 8, the Bears were manhandled by the New England Patriots in a 51-23 defeat. The defense surrendered 38 points in the first half of that game, and allowed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to throw five touchdown passes. And just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, Chicago gives up 42 first-half points against the Green Bay Packers in Week 10, along with six touchdown passes from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Going into Week 11, the Bears are 3-6, and are 0-2 against NFC North opponents. With seven more games left in the season, Chicago pretty much has to run the table in order to have a chance at the postseason. Unfortunately, the way things are going, that won’t happen, especially with the Packers (6-3) and the Detroit Lions (7-2) having a commanding lead in the division. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that at best, the Bears will win three more games after their bye week. The way that Chicago is regressing, it might be less than that.
The Week 12 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seems to be the one victory the Bears can get. The other possible ones are against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11 and 17. As for the rest of the games, the talent on the opposing rosters will be just too much for Chicago to handle.
Five of the last seven games will be played at home for the Bears. Usually, that would be a good sign, but the Bears have yet to win a game at Soldier Field this season. So home-field advantage might not even play a factor.
General manager Phil Emery, and the rest of the Bears’ front office might as well start gearing up for the 2015 free-agency period and the upcoming draft, because there is nothing else worth playing for this season.
Clyde A. Speller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClydeASpeller
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