NFL record predictions for the 2018 regular season
By Ian Cummings
Chicago Bears
You know how teams just come out of nowhere sometimes? That will be the Chicago Bears in 2018.
Yes, the Bears haven’t made any playoff noise in some time. But in 2018, that will change. I’m not as high on Matt Nagy as other onlookers; the Chiefs’ offense improved drastically under Nagy’s watch in the latter part of the 2017 season, but with all their talent, they couldn’t beat an average Tennessee Titans team in the playoffs.
Nagy came into the hiring process with a decent, if not thin, resume, and other coaching candidates like Frank Reich and Jon DeFilippo may have been better fits for Chicago’s needs. After all, both candidates were instrumental in helping Carson Wentz embark on an MVP-worthy campaign in 2017. With Mitch Trubisky entering his second year, the standard for the North Carolina product has been set by Wentz and his Eagles’ affiliates.
It’s a standard the Bears hope to match with Matt Nagy.
Nagy certainly has the talent to work with on the offensive side of the ball. Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen make for an explosive combination at running back, and after a year of confusion at the wide receiver position, the Bears are now filled to the brim at that position, with talented players such as Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Kevin White, and electric rookie Anthony Miller littering the ranks. Trey Burton provides more of that receiving value at tight end, and Dion Sims can compliment him as a blocker.
On defense, Nagy and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have more of that underrated talent to work with. 2018 first-round pick Roquan Smith has the speed and defensive I.Q. to immediately elevate the unit, and in the linebacking core, he’ll be joined by other young, ascending players such as Danny Trevathan, Nick Kwiatkowski, Aaron Lynch, Kylie Fitts, and Leonard Floyd. Floyd, in particular, has the athleticism and talent to break out in his third professional season. He was a top ten pick in 2016 for a reason. Now healthy, and with a respectable rotation around him, the stars are aligning for Floyd.
It also helps that the Bears’ secondary is solid. Kyle Fuller and Price Amukamara make for an underrated cornerback duo, and Bryce Callahan, Cre’von Leblanc, and Marcus Cooper provide depth, in that regard. Adrian Amos was one of the best safeties in the NFL last year, and he’s joined by last year’s standout rookie, Eddie Jackson III, who should only improve in his second year. That safety duo is impressive, and if the Bears can generate more pass rush, their defense has immense potential.
Skill position players are nice to have, of course, but it all starts in the trenches. And the Bears are only getting better there. On the offensive line, the Bears have Charles Leno Jr. providing security at left tackle, with James Daniels, Cody Whitehair, and Kyle Long combining to form a strong interior. At right tackle, the team could use an upgrade over Bobby Massie. Massie has been an average starter his whole career.
Luckily for the Bears, they have the talent on the offensive line to boost him up. The Bears’ defensive line rotation, much like their situation on the offensive line, isn’t the strongest, but there are solid players like Eddie Goldman, Jonathan Bullard, and Akiem Hicks to keep the ship afloat. Bilal Nichols, the team’s sixth-round pick the year, also has early rotational potential.
The 2018 Chicago Bears squad is a team that has the talent to compete. The shock of an overhauled roster is on their side. With a perfect mix of holdover talent and young potential, the Bears will be in the hunt for the playoffs. Due to lacking depth in some areas, particularly on the trenches, they may not last as long as other teams. But it all comes down to Mitch Trubisky. If he can take on a second-year leap similar to Carson Wentz, then the Bears could very well achieve double-digit wins for the first time since 2012. They will be knocking on the door.