The Chicago Bears are about to start out their 2023 season. Earlier than that, listed here are 5 daring predictions.
The 2023 season is lastly right here! The Chicago Bears at the moment are making ready for Week 1 in opposition to the hated Inexperienced Bay Packers. All of the discuss, all of the hope, and all of the guesses now should be put previously. Now could be when the workforce both rewards the followers for his or her hope or they sink and have one other irritating season.
Common supervisor Ryan Poles did an unbelievable job of overhauling the roster. He added much more expertise and depth all through the roster. This workforce seems markedly totally different than the one which ended the 2022 season.
Now most of Poles’ job is finished. If the workforce wants to amass one other participant he can do this. Nonetheless, the heavy lifting is over. It’s now as much as head coach Matt Eberflus and his employees to place the gamers able to succeed. Additionally, it’s as much as the gamers to do their job.
On paper, this workforce seems stronger. Is it a title contender? No, not for the time being. Nonetheless, in the event that they play nicely and are in numerous video games it’ll present that they’re heading in the right direction. Keep in mind, they’ve two first-round picks subsequent yr. In addition they have six picks within the first 4 rounds. They’ll undoubtedly add to the roster and take a good larger step subsequent season.
For now, nevertheless, allow us to give attention to 2023. Listed below are 5 daring predictions for the 2023 season.
Kmet can be a Professional Bowl tight finish
One of many issues Poles did over the offseason was give tight finish Cole Kmet a brand new contract. He was concerning the begin the ultimate season of his 
rookie deal.
Poles and Kmet agreed to a brand new four-year, $50 million contract, with $32 million assured. Now the Bears have their TE1 wrapped up for 4 extra seasons.
Kmet led the workforce in catches and yards final season. That isn’t saying so much for the reason that Chicago Bears struggled to throw the ball. Nonetheless, he did even have seven touchdowns.
Kmet is primed to have a breakout season. He has his contract state of affairs settled so that’s one factor he doesn’t have to fret about now. He can exit and proceed to take the steps to get even higher. Because of this, he’ll find yourself having a Professional Bowl season.
Prediction: 71 catches for 823 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns
Jackson builds on final season’s success
With a brand new regime at Halas Corridor, there have been some considerations about security Eddie Jackson. He answered the bell as soon as the season began, 
nevertheless. He went again to his ball-hawking methods, recording 4 interceptions.
Jackson and rookie Jaquan Brisker made an excellent workforce. They fed off of one another nicely. They complemented one another, making an ideal duo.
Jackson suffered a Lisfranc damage, nevertheless. It ended his season after simply 12 video games.
Now Jackson is wholesome once more and able to construct on final season. Brisker has the expertise from final season as nicely so each needs to be even stronger.
Prediction: Jackson information 6 interceptions and runs two of them for touchdowns. He forces two fumbles.
The Chicago Bears’ cross rush is far improved
Considered one of Poles’ priorities this offseason was strengthening the line of defense. Final season, the Bears struggled each in opposition to the cross and the run.
Many individuals level to the dearth of sacks the protection had however the way in which opponents gashed the center of the road was additionally alarming. Because of this, Poles introduced in Yannick Ngakoue, DeMarcus Walker, Rasheem Inexperienced, and Andrew Billings by way of free company. Moreover, he has rookies Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens alongside the road.
The hope is that if the road is powerful up the center it’ll create alternatives for the defensive ends. That method, the run is shut down and it makes the opposing quarterback one-dimensional. With higher defensive ends, they need to rush the quarterback higher.
Ngakoue is the important thing for the defensive ends. In his seven seasons, he has not recorded lower than eight sacks. Final season, Brisker led the Bears in sacks with 4.
Ngakoue recorded 9.5 sacks final season and 19.5 within the final two seasons. With him hounding the quarterback opponents may double-team him.
Which means Walker ought to have extra one-on-one alternatives. He had a career-high seven sacks final season. He hopes to construct on that and file much more this season.
Additionally, Walker has been a vocal chief for the workforce. His teammates say he has no hassle holding them accountable for his or her efficiency. That gave the impression to be one thing lacking from the workforce lately.
With an improved line of defense, the cross rush for the Chicago Bears might be light-years higher than it was in 2022.
Prediction: The Bears file 43 sacks and lift their quarterback knockdown share from 4.2 % to eight.7 %.
Moore transforms the broad receiver corps
The most important transfer Poles made this offseason was to commerce the primary total decide within the draft. He swapped first-round picks and purchased just a few extra draft picks. 
Additionally included within the deal was broad receiver D.J. Moore. Moore is likely one of the high receivers within the NFL. He had three consecutive seasons with over 1,100 yards earlier than recording 888 yards final season.
Having Moore within the offense settles the receiver unit. Darnell Mooney is an effective participant however isn’t a WR1. He can settle in because the WR2 and never have to fret about carrying the unit. Throw in Chase Claypool with a full offseason to be taught the offense, and rookie speedster Tyler Scott and the receivers will carry out higher.
Moore and Fields will join for some explosive performs. Within the preseason video games, he took a little bit display cross 62 yards in a single recreation. In one other, he made a catch, obtained away from the defenders, and went 40 yards.
There may be numerous hope that Moore does that within the common season. If he does, there can be some enjoyable occasions watching Chicago Bears soccer once more.
Prediction: Moore has 63 catches for 1,156 yards, 10 touchdowns
Fields exhibits that he’s the person the Chicago Bears thought he might be
Fields is the Chicago Bears’ lightning rod for controversy. There appears to be numerous break up on whether or not or not he’s the franchise quarterback the workforce thought. That break up is just not solely amongst Bears followers and the nationwide viewers but additionally amongst Bears followers as nicely.
Fields actually confirmed how precious he’s working the ball. He ran for 1,143 yards. That was the second-most by a quarterback in a season.
A quarterback will get paid to throw the ball, nevertheless. In that space, he had some struggles.
Right here’s a humorous factor, although. Whereas Fields struggled early on, he did carry out higher because the season progressed. In his first seven video games final season, he accomplished about 56 % of his passes. He had 5 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. His passer ranking was 74.6.
In his last eight video games, nevertheless, Fields improved regardless of the dearth of reliable receivers. He accomplished about 64 % of his passes. He had 12 landing passes and 5 interceptions. His passer ranking was 93.1.
Now, with extra expertise surrounding him, Fields needs to be a greater passer. He doesn’t have to fret if his goal will make a play or catch an essential cross. As we noticed within the preseason, he can simply throw a little bit display or a curl and the receiver can flip it into an enormous acquire.
Many individuals really feel that Fields is a working again disguised as a quarterback. What they don’t speak about is that in school he was a pass-first quarterback. He had receivers he trusted and he had numerous success throwing the ball.
This season, Fields will present how good of a passer he actually is.
Prediction: Fields completes 66.5 % of his passes for 3,813 yards, 29 landing passes, and 10 interceptions. He runs for 863 yards and 6 speeding touchdowns.
