I apologize for the rapid fire of posts (has it really been over 2.5 months since I posted here?), but I have to get my thoughts out about the latest edition of the Chicago Bears.
Simply put, it was a thoroughly frustrating, yet somewhat entertaining season. They finished about where I thought they would (somewhere between 7-9 and 9-7), but did so in a thoroughly inconsistent way. Looking at the season at it's end, it really isn't that different than last year. The offense was a little better, the defense was significantly worse, and the Devin Hester show became the Danieal Manning Show. All in all, it was a pretty mediocre season. And yet, they were 8 points away from making the playoffs.
So where do the Bears go from here? The defense is getting older, and former key pieces of the puzzle like Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, and Mike Brown aren't what they once were. Maybe they can pick up a good (or at least solid) defensive tackle, another solid linebacker, and a decent safety in free agency or the draft.
On the other side of the ball, the much maligned offense did nothing but raise more questions. Orton showed some signs of competence, but also showed some signs that he isn't the answer. The Bears appear to have found a top back in Matt Forte, but he can't be expected to carry the offense year after year. Unfortunately, Greg Olson appears to be just a good, rather than a great, pass catching tight end. Given the weakness of the Bears wide receiver corps, that is yet another reason to be pessimistic for next season.
In the end, its far too early to make any observations on how the Bears will do in 2009. The Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins showed how quick things can change in a season. Until the Bears make their moves in the off-season, I'll stay in a wait and see mode.
The days of football are numbered for another season, and it is time for us who follow sports to move to college basketball, which is just getting ready to begin conference season. And don't forget that pitchers and catchers report in about two months.
At least I'm not a Lions fan.
Quick Playoff Predictions
Wildcard Round
Indianapolis over San Diego
Baltimore over Miami
Minnesota over Philadelphia
Atlanta over Arizona
Divisional Round
Pittsburgh over Indianapolis
Baltimore over Tennessee
New York over Atlanta
Carolina over Minnesota
Conference Championship Round
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
New York over Carolina
Super Bowl
New York over Pittsburgh
