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| Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press |
| Expectations are high in Chicago after the offseason acquisition of quarterback Jay Cutler. |
As part of NFL Network's 32 teams in 32 days series, airing daily on Total Access, NFL.com takes a look at a key question facing each team. NFL Network analysts Brian Billick and Brian Baldinger discuss the Chicago Bears. Are the Bears now the favorites in the NFC North after adding quarterback Jay Cutler?
Read their take and then enter the discussion below.
Billick: Defense is key The
Bears are positioned to be the favorites.
Clearly the Vikings will be a factor, particularly if Brett Favre is on board. The defense in Green Bay is now under Dom Capers, and the Packers could very well be the team that we thought they would be last year. More importantly, can the Bears return to playing defense to the way they used to? Coach Lovie Smith is calling the plays now and will be the de facto defensive coordinator. That combination will be key for the Bears. The Bears need to get healthy defensively. They need to have their big players -- Tommie Harris, Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher -- play up to their contracts. Offensively, the Bears have enough to make teams respect their passing game. They have a unique combination of targets. They had more than 90 catches out of their TEs last season, plus Matt Forte out of the backfield. The numbers are there. Devin Hester, who I saw several times last year, has become a legitimate WR. I don't know if he's a No. 1, but you have to respect his speed. I think they have enough weapons for Cutler. |
Baldinger: Time to adjust I don't think the
Bears are the favorites with Cutler. Cutler improves the
Bears, and they'll be a better offensive team this season, but I don't think they're the favorites.
To me, both the Vikings and Packers are the favorites in the NFC North in front of the Bears right now. The Bears need an elite receiver. Devin Hester didn't show me a lot last year. The Bears have a couple of tight ends in Greg Olson and Desmond Clark that are pretty good. They have a very good running back in Matt Forte. The offensive line may be improved with Orlando Pace, if he's healthy, but we'll see. Either way, it's not going to be the offensive line that Cutler passed behind in Denver, that's for sure. The Bears lack the elite receivers Cutler had with the Broncos. I think there will be an adjustment that needs to be made all the way around the offense, a lot of which will have to do with timing. I think it's going to take a good part of the season in order to get that in sync. |
