The windy city was treated to an unexpected playoff season in 2018. However, can the Chicago Bears repeat that success in 2019?
The current head coaching trend in the NFL is to find a young, offensive minded ‘wonder kid’ and hire him. Like the Los Angeles Rams did with Sean McVay and the San Francisco 49ers did with Kyle Shanahan, the Chicago Bears found a seat on this trend train and named Matt Nagy the team’s head coach prior to the 2018 season.
Nagy was gifted a mostly neophyte quarterback in Mitchell Trubisky and was the beneficiary of some free agent spending and trade magic. The Bears that Nagy was set to coach were a far better team than the club that went 5-11 in 2017.
Of course, that’s what has to happen for a team to jump seven wins in a year. Nonetheless, Nagy’s Bears had one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL, which he coupled with a defense that showed shades of the past “Monsters of the Midway.”
Who will they take the field against in 2019?
Home: Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and the New Orleans Saints.
Away: Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles Rams.
Yes, if you’re a Bears fan and you’re thinking “this schedule looks absolutely deadly,” you’re warranted to think that. The Bears are slated to take on some of the league’s best, and they will play six 2018 playoff teams.
In-division is no cake walk as the Packers will be better, the Vikings are still primed to compete, and the Lions added. Out of division is where the tough sledding will take place with the Rams, Saints, Chargers, Cowboys and Chiefs.
Chicago has had an interesting offseason. The Bears have added where they could, like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to replace Adrian Amos. However, they have been working under a tight cap due to the large sum being paid to Khalil Mack and others.
Though, that is understandable. What is tough to digest is why the Bears sent Jordan Howard to the Philadelphia Eagles for a late-round draft pick.
Regardless, the team’s 12-4 regular season was a huge step forward. They were the owners of a 7-1 home record, a 5-3 away record and they went 5-1 within the division. Their 10-2 conference record was tied for top in the league.