2018 Record - 12-4-0
Head Coach - Matt Nagy
Newcomers for 2019 - Mike Davis (RB), Buster Skrine (DB), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (DB), Ted Larsen (OL), Cordarrelle Patterson (WR/KR), Marvin Hall (WR)
Keys on Offense - Bears QB Mitch Trubisky will be in his third season and he showed real signs of progress last season, throwing for 3,223 yards. He had 24 touchdown passes with 12 interceptions and also showed he can run when needed, gaining 421 yards with three rushing touchdowns.
Tarik Cohen gained 444 yards on the ground and averaged 4.5 yards per carry with three touchdowns, but his best was receiving (71 receptions to lead the team) out of the backfield and he scored five more touchdowns on receptions. Along with Cohen, the Bears will have rookie David Montgomery (Iowa State) and free agent Mike Davis, who rushed for 514 yards (4.6 ypc, four TD) and also had 34 receptions, one for a score.
The receivers are deep with Taylor Gabriel (67, 688, two TD), Allen Robinson (55, 754, four TD) and Anthony Miller, who had seven TD receptions to lead the team in his rookie season. Miller snared 33 catches for 423 yards. The tight end is Trey Burton (54, 569, six TD). Cordarrelle Patterson, Marvin Hall and rookie Riley Ridley (Georgia) will be in the fold in the passing attack.
Keys on Defense - Linebacker Khalil Mack is the heart and soul of the defense, getting 12 1/2 sacks last year while pumping up fans and teammates alike when he signed as a free agent just before the season opener. The rest of the linebacking unit is solid with Danny Trevathan (two sacks and two interceptions), Roquan Smith (five sacks) and Leonard Floyd (four sacks).
Defensive End Akiem Hicks had 7 1/2 sacks and anchors the front line while the secondary is a ball hawking unit featuring safeties Eddie Jackson (six INT, two for touchdowns) and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who had three picks while splitting time in 2018 with Green Bay and Washington. The corners are Prince Amukamara (three INT) and Kyle Fuller, who tied for the league lead with seven interceptions. Buster Skrine comes over as a free agent to add depth.
OUTLOOK FOR 2019 - As long as the team stays healthy, as they did last season, they should be in a good spot to win a second consecutive NFC North division title.
Head Coach Matt Nagy made believers out of his players in the system and team philosphy last season and will look to repeat the effort. Although defensive coordinator Vic Fangio left to become the top man in Denver, the team will have Chuck Pagano this season to run the defense.
His style is aggressive and the team thrived on pressure defense a year ago, leading the league with 27 interceptions while also topping the NFL in scoring defense (17.7 points allowed per game), run defense (8o ypg allowed) and ranking third in total yards allowed per game as well as ranking third with 50 quarterback sacks.
The offense will look to Trubisky to show even more leadership as he matures under the system Nagy runs. The Bears averaged 26.3 points per game last year (9th in NFL) while finishing in the middle of the pack in yards per game (343.9) which was 21st in the league. With a solid receiving corps and two new running backs to go along with the electric Cohen, the offense should continue to get better.
Of course, let's not forget the kicking game.
The Bears were victims of a subpar kicker a year ago, and it cost them dearly in the Wild Card game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Soldier Field last January when Cody Parker had the infamous "double doink" missed field goal as time expired in a 16-15 defeat.
This team is solid, especially on defense and should repeat as division champions. Look for a 11-5 finish with the tougher schedule this time around. The big question is whether the Bears can advance in the post-season and reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 13 seasons.
It just might happen.
2019 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Green Bay
Week 2 - at Denver
Week 3 - at Washington
Week 4 - vs. Minnesota
Week 5 - at Oakland (in London)
Week 6 - BYE
Week 7 - vs. New Orleans
Week 8 - vs. LA Chargers
Week 9 - at Philadelphia
Week 10 - vs. Detroit
Week 11 - at LA Rams
Week 12 - vs. NY Giants
Week 13 - at Detroit
Week 14 - vs. Dallas
Week 15 - at Green Bay
Week 16 - vs. Kansas City
Week 17 - at Minnesota
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