2019 Record - 8-8-0
Head Coach - Matt Nagy
New Players in 2020 - Nick Foles (QB), Robert Quinn (LB), Jimmy Graham (TE), Germain Ifedi (OL), Tashaun Gipson (DB), Ted Ginn, Jr. (WR), John Jenkins (DL), Jordan Lucas (DB), Artie Burbs (DB), Demetrius Harris (TE), Barkevious Mingo (LB)
Players opting out for 2020 (COVID-19) - Eddie Goldman (DL), Jordan Lucas (DB)
OFFENSE - Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles are the two will be vying for the starting quarterback position this season. Trubisky passed for 3,138 yards with 17 touchdowns and ten interceptions last year. Foles was with Jacksonville and suffered through an injury plagued season, passing for 736 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in only four games played.
David Montgomery (889 rushing yards, 3.7 ypc and six TD) and Tarik Cohen (213 rushing yards along with 79 receptions for 456 yards and three TD) are the primary running backs. Wide receivers include Allen Robinson (98 receptions for 1,147 yards and seven TD), Anthony Miller (52, 656, two TD), Riley Ridley (six receptions), Ted Ginn, Jr. (30, 421, two TD with New Orleans) and Cordarrelle Patterson, who had eleven receptions but also averaged 6.1 yards per carry as a rusher and also averaged 29.5 yards per kickoff return, including a 102-yard touchdown return.
The tight ends are Jimmy Graham, the 11-year veteran coming over from Green Bay, where he had 38 receptions last year for 448 yards and three scores. Rookie and Bears' top draft pick Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) and Demetrius Harris (15, 149, three TD with Cleveland) will also be in the fold for the Bears.
DEFENSE - The Bears will be without Eddie Goldman, their fine nose tackle, who opted out for the 2020 season. However, they do have Akeim Hicks at defensive end and along with outside linebacker Khalil Mack (8 1/2 QB sacks) and now Robert Quinn (11 1/2 sacks with Dallas) at the other outside backer spot, and that is a fearsome bunch.
Inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith round out the front seven for a solid defense that ranked in the top ten in the NFL in both rushing (102 ypg allowed) and passing (222 ypg allowed) and was fourth overall in scoring defense, giving up just 18.6 points per game.
The secondary has corners Kyle Fuller (three interceptions) and Kevin Toliver along with safeties Eddie Jackson (two INT) and Tashaun Gipson (three picks with one for a TD with Houston) to form a ball hawking unit.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - The Bears fell off to an 8-8 finish in 2019 after making the playoffs the year before and a lot of the blame went to Trubisky, who seemed to regress at the quarterback position and that affected the offense for sure.
Hence, Head Coach Matt Nagy has a guy in Nick Foles who can step in at quarterback as the starter or come off the bench as he did so many times with the Philadelphia Eagles, including the 2017 season when he was the MVP for them when they won the Super Bowl. Foles is familiar with the scheme Nagy's teams run (he was with Nagy and Kansas City in 2016) and will get a serious look in this unique 2020 NFL training camp.
The running game for Chicago must pick it up big time after allowing Jordan Howard to leave the team after the 2018 season. The Bears ranked 27th in rushing in the NFL last season, gaining 91 yards per game. The passing wasn't much better, averaging 206 yards per game and the total offense was 29th in the league. Better pass protection for the quarterback would help as well. Chicago allowed 45 sacks last season. In addition, the Bears averaged a meager 17.5 points per game, which was also 29th overall.
The strength of this team is the defense and even though they took a slight step back last season (especially in the turnover category), with the additions of Quinn and Gipson, it should definitely help to offset losing Goldman this season.
Like most teams in the NFL this season, as long as the Bears don't lose too many key players to injury or the COVID-19 quarantine, they should be in decent shape, especially on defense. The big question mark lies at the quarterback position. If they get steady and decent play from that spot while limiting turnovers, a return to the playoffs is a possibility.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Detroit
Week Two - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Three - at Atlanta
Week Four - vs. Indianapolis
Week Five - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Six - at Carolina
Week Seven - at L.A. Rams
Week Eight - vs. New Orleans
Week Nine - at Tennessee
Week Ten - vs. Minnesota
Week Eleven - BYE
Week Twelve - at Green Bay
Week Thirteen - vs. Detroit
Week Fourteen - vs. Houston
Week Fifteen - at Minnesota
Week Sixteen - at Jacksonville
Week Seventeen - vs. Green Bay
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