Not in the Playoffs, Not a Problem: The Chicago Bears Move on to 2023 Season

As most football fans are gearing up to enjoy the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, in between Burger King Whopper Whopper Whooper ads, Chicago Bears fans, such as myself, are in a different headspace. Even though our team “earned” the #1 overall draft pick by having the worst record in the NFL this season, there is a level of optimism I’ve never seen before from fellow Bears fans ever. The sad carousel ride of “Average at Best Quarterbacks,” may be wrapping up for the Chicago Bears.

Justin Fields broke the following records this season, which started rocky, but then inspired hope for the hopeless:

-Fewest completions through two weeks (shhh… let’s move on)

-Single-game quarterback rushing record (Week 9 vs Miami, 178 yards)

-First QB to throw 3+ TDs and rush over 140 yards (Week 9 vs Miami)

-Only QB in the Super Bowl era with multiple 60+ yard touchdowns (Week 9 then again Week 10)

-Only QB since 1925 to score three rushing TDs over 50 yards (Week 9, Week 10, Week 13

-First Bears player to rush consecutive 147-yard games since Walter Payton (Week 9 and Week 10)

-First NFL QB with 100+ rushing yards and 2 rushing/passing TDs (Week 10 vs Detroit)

-Longest Bears quarterback run and touchdown run (Week 9 then again Week 10)

-Most rushing yards over a five-game span (Week 6 to Week 10)

-Most consecutive games with a rushing TD (Week 7 to Week 13)

-Tied for most consecutive games with 1 rushing/passing TD

-Most 20+ mph carries in one season since 2018

Totaling Bears' Justin Fields' season records, unique stat lines - NBC Sports Chicago

Sure, a lot of these games ended in Chicago losses.

Sure a lot of these records are for rushing.

Many people say that a running quarterback can’t win a Super Bowl

Running Quarterback will get injured.

If you watched every Chicago game, which painfully I did, you will see that his legs allowed him to extend the drive, give receivers more time to get open, hide weaknesses of the offensive line, and when he runs, he slides or gets out of bounds to save his body. He takes a hit every now and then, but he’s not like Josh Allen running into contact for no reason.

So where does the optimism come from? 4 pieces to the equation (and people said you won’t use algebra after high school).

(#1 draft pick) x (at least 9 teams need a new QB) + $118 million in cap space for free agents (next closest team is Atlanta with $68 million) + A competent Coaching Staff and GM + Rookies who performed well this season

#1- The #1 Draft Pick

All signs point to the Bears trading down to a team that needs a quarterback. The fact that many/most mock drafts show the Bears trading, and many quarterbacks having 1st round grades (not necessarily talent, WILL LEVIS I DON’T THINK YOU’RE THAT GOOD). For example, CBS Sports, has the Bears moving to #2 to take DE Will Anderson Jr. from Bama. 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Texans select Bryce Young No. 1 overall; Seahawks add Jalen Carter at No. 3 and a big WR - CBSSports.com Many fans on twitter are using draft simulators to show the Bears trading back MULTIPLE times to pick up receivers like DeAndre Hopkins from Arizona, Davante Adams from Las Vegas, Michael Pittman Jr. from Indianapolis plus their 1st round pick and more. The Colts GM was quoted as saying he would move heaven and earth to get the #1 pick to get their guy. Ryan Poles, the GM for the Bears, will really be tested with this deal. We will find out if he’s the guy, or if he’s another GM on the long list of Bears GM’s with bad drafts. (Please don’t bring up Mitch). Any talk of the Bears draft a QB is dumb smoke screen talk. Justin is our guy, we cannot start this process over again.

#2- $118 Million in Free Agency Cap Space

-Losing Roquan Smith stunk

-Losing Khalil Mack hurt

-Trading Robert Quinn when he was playing his best was tough

In the moment, Bears fans may have overreacted, we knew this season was about the future, and now that the future is close, it’s easier for fans to see the plan in action. The roster was not built by GM Ryan Poles or Head Coach Matt Eberflus. Now we get to see what they want to accomplish. Most GMs and head coaches never get this much freedom in building their team. Ryan Poles a former offensive linemen will look to rebuild that offense around Fields and Eberflus who had amazing defenses as Colts Defensive Coordinators will build the defense to fit his scheme and system. This is exciting to think about, but if they fail to land some big names, that optimism could fall flat going into the preseason of 2023. So who’s in this year’s free agency class that the Bears could go after? Here are a few of the guys I’d like to see targeted from Top 100 - 2023 NFL Free Agents List - NFLTradeRumors.co

Orlando Brown OT KC 27 Consensus Top Free Agent O-Lineman

Jamel Dean CB TB 26 DBs need help, could fit in well

Marcus Davenport DE NO 26 Former 1st Rounder, Injuries limit playing time

Saquon Barkley RB NYG 26 Expensive, I want Montgomery to ReSign

Jakoby Myers WR NE 26 Need WR help fast!

Mike McGlinchey OT SF 28 Need experienced O-Lineman

Lavonte David LB TB 33 Always loved his style, aging but fits, PFF graded him as elite in 2022

Jessie Bates S CIN 26 Winner, Great young Safety, when I played as the Bengals in Madden he was awesome

Allen Lazard WR GB 27 Get a big WR to go opposite Mooney, Claypool bust? Iowa guy!

Adrian Amos S GB 30 Bring him home!

#3- Competent Coaching Staff and GM

This has yet to be seen and this offseason will be crucial for Ryan Poles to gain the trust of the Chicago fan base. He had some good later round picks in last year’s draft but Velus Jones Jr. in the 3rd round looks awful but most of the rest of the class played meaningful minutes, more on that later. The Chase Claypool trade was exciting and now people are quick to call it a bust. I’m going to wait on that for now. Dude was traded in the middle of the season, has to learn a new offensive, while everyone else has been in it since summer. I want to see what an offseason with his nose in the playbook will do for him. Also, can’t wait for some random summer tweet where Fields is throwing to Claypool in gym shorts and t-shirts working on their connection. It means nothing, but I’ll definitely over react and quote tweet it saying, “Fields to Claypool is the new Manning to Harrison”

As for the coaches, I have my tinfoil hat on thinking that the coaches did enough to inspire hope, but held back to ensure better draft picks and save some of their better plays for next year so teams don’t have film on them. Does that sound crazy? YUP! But hear me out:

-Bears went 3-14 and got the 1st overall pick BUT

-Beat the 49ers in Week 1 (playoff team, before the legend PURDY)

-Beat the Texans in Week 3

-Beat the Patriots in Week 5

-Losses to playoff teams:

-Giants by 8

-Vikings by 7

-Dolphins by 3

-Eagles by 5

-Lost 7 games by 1 score

Watching these games, it felt like offensive coordinator Luke Getsy put the team in a position to win for most of the game, then in the 2nd half/4th quarter, he put the restrictor plate on, and coasted to a loss. The offense this year was the most fun and exciting I’ve ever seen it in franchise history and they lost 14 games. There is something there. Just imagine when pieces get added.

Defensively, it was a makeshift group that made the most of their situation. Many players were unheralded and fighting for a future contract. I think Eberflus and Poles used this year’s defense to make decisions on the future. Really test those young guys, keep the ones they want, and then get them the help they need to lighten the load.

#4- Rookies Performed Well

Three Chicago Bears rookies made Pro Football Focus’s All-Rookie Team:

Braxton Jones – Offensive Tackle – Round 5 Pick 168

Jaquan Brisker – Safety – Round 2 Pick 48

Jack Sanborn – Linebacker – Undrafted Free Agent

This is a HUGE value out of these three guys and could show that Ryan Poles does know what he’s doing. The local kid, Jack Sanborn, just looked like a Chicago Bear throwback linebacker. He’s preseason was amazing and followed through in season after some injuries and roster movements. He made the most of his time until an injury ended his season early. Brisker looked like a veteran back there for the young group of defensive backs. Looked like a natural leader and when they were outmatched as a unit, he held his own. Getting help around him will only make his strengths even more noticeable. Braxton Jones was an unknown going into the season out of Southern Utah. Always knew he was going to line up at tackle, but would he even be the backup? He answered all doubts and made a name for himself.

As for other rookies:

Kyler Gordon started at cornerback for 14 games with 55 tackles and 3 ints

Velus Jones Jr. was a waste of a pick

Dominique Robinson was 2nd string and contributed in 17 games with 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks

Zachary Thomas was cut and signed by the Rams

Trestan Ebner was in 17 games with 24 carries for 54 yards 0 touchdowns mostly special teams guy

Doug Kramer was on IR at the start of the season

Ja’Tyre Carter was in 2 games on the offensive line

Elijah Hicks was in at cornerback for 15 games with 15 tackles and 0 ints

Trenton Gill started at punter all season

Jaylon Jones was a defensive back for 16 games with 33 tackles and 0 ints

To long didn’t read?

-Justin Fields is good

-The coaches and GM have a plan

-#1 pick + $118 million will make the offseason fun

-Rookies to build around

-Bet a future on the Chicago Bears to make to playoffs in 2023 and over 8.5 wins

-I, and many other Bears fans are more optimistic than ever but won’t be surprised if we are let down again, but I will enjoy this period now, because you can’t get worse than the worst!

Thank you for reading my piece on the Chicago Bears. You can follow me on twitter at @GrayEducation where I share my thoughts on the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Rugby, College Football, Professional Wrestling, Public Education, and Humor