Cautiously Optimistic: The 2012 Chicago Bears

On the eve of the Bears first preseason game against Peyton Manning and the Colts Broncos*, I'm not quite sure how to feel. For the first time in my Bears fandom they actually have a Quarterback worth caring about, as well as real wide receiver. Forte got his contract, and should be happy and ready to go. The defense, though its core is still rather old, looks like it will be solid again. By god, they might actually be contenders.

Nonetheless, I am trying to remain rather cautious in my optimism. I can't help but think back to that San Diego game last year. For the first time in a long time, the Bears looked like a real contender, a team that could actually do something. Cutler was tearing apart the Chargers, and a second straight playoff berth looked almost like a sure thing. Then Johnny Knox slipped, the Chargers intercepted Cutler's pass, and he made a touchdown saving tackle. Cutler broke his thumb on the tackle, and the season changed irrevocably. From there, the Bears went from one of their best games in at least five years, to two of their most embarrassing losses ever**.

Hopefully things will be better this year. Mike Martz is gone, and Cutler has his receiver in Brandon Marshall and his QB coach in Jeremy Bates. Mike Tice's offense should hopefully be tailored to his talents, and minimize the mistakes of the offensive line. With luck the Bears offense won't take half a season to get in gear. If not, the early season schedule might leave them in a hole.

At first glance the first eight games look easier than the last eight. They start with Colts, and play the Rams and Jaguars as well. The Packers and Lions are by far the two toughest opponents in the first half. They have four home games and four away games, so that shouldn't affect them much.

However, the thing that worries me are all the night games. After experiencing so many dreadful Bears performances on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights, I tend to dread these games. Sure, some of the greatest Bears moments have happened under the lights. So have far too many drubbings, including several by the hated Packers. Guess who there first prime-time opponent is? To add to the miserable mess, it's a Thursday night NFL Network game, my least favorite type of NFL game.

Sure, they begin the back half of the season with an NBC/ESPN prime-time back to back against the Texans and 49ers. But once those are done, they finish the season with six day games, with only one at this time scheduled for late afternoon.*** The back half does appear to be against tougher opponents, so not starting in a hole makes it that much more important.

In the end, this is the most excited for a Bears season I've been since at least 2006. Still, I am trying to tamp down my enthusiasm and remain cautiously optimistic. After all, the Packers are still a terrible matchup for the Bears, and the Lions don't look any less tough than they were last year. I'm sure even the Vikings have found a few ways to improve. Here's to another great season of football.

Oh yeah, my prediction? The Bears go 5-3 to start the season, and 5-3 in the back half. While it leaves them behind the Packers, they beat the Lions out of the playoffs, winning the Wild Card round and losing in the Divisional round. The Packers and Texans will win their conferences, and the Packers will beat the Texans, who are just happy to have made it that far.****

*Have to say it feels weird to type that. Seriously, I almost typed Colts based on muscle memory, even though I spent the previous thirty seconds telling myself to type Broncos.

**I think that 10-3 loss to the Chiefs was the worst game I had the misfortune to ever watch. Yes, it was worse than the dreadful Wannstedt years, worse than the 2003 season opener against the 49ers, even worse than anything involving Chad Hutchinson, Henry Burris, Johnathan Quinn, or Caleb Hanie's other games. And although most of the game the defense performed admirably, that Denver game wasn't much better. I think Marion Barber just fumbled again. Or did he go out of bounds?

***Unlike prime time games, I actually like the late afternoon game. Especially late in the season, it means the Bears are having a season worth watching. Or they are playing a meaningless game in Seattle or Oakland. Either way it is still better than those NFL Network games. In addition, the most amazing two week span of the last 23 years for the Bears (2001 against the 49ers and Browns) took place during the late afternoon games.

****Pre-emptive apologies to the Texans fans for your upcoming 5-11 season. No apologies for you Packers fan, you get what you deserve.