New Regime in Chicago
The Chicago Bears 2022 Outlook is one of a transition year. Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles take over as Head Coach and General manager. The defense that has been the staple of the organization for the last 2 decades is finally undergoing a rebuild. Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack are gone. Same with Allen Robinson on the offensive side of the ball. There is a clear motive that Ryan Poles and the Bears front office are turning the page on the old edition of the Bears, and are looking to revamp the organization. And that starts with Justin Fields. Fields showed some flashes and some good moments in 2021. Particularly in the latter half of the season.
Question Marks?
The Chicago Bears 2022 Outlook on offense is one of many question marks. Is Justin Fields the long term answer at Quarterback? Will the offensive line be competent enough to keep Fields upright? Will they be able to create holes for running backs to hit? Outside of Robert Quinn, Eddie Jackson, and Roquan Smith, who else will step up on the defense? Can a Head Coach coming from the defensive side of the ball provide the right type of environment for a young, developing quarterback? These are just some of the question marks around the Chicago Bears this season.
Is there Enough Talent?
The Bears didn’t just lose Hicks, Mack, and Robinson this offseason. James Daniels on the line is gone. Wide Receivers Jakeem Grant, Marquis Goodwin, and Damiere Byrd are also gone. Alec Ogletree, Jesse James, Jason peters, Tarik Cohen, Jimmy Graham, and Danny Trevathan are all gone as well. The Bears were without a 1st round pick in the draft after trading it away last year to move up and get Justin Fields. They haven’t managed to replenish the talent pool, or at least with proven talent. let’s get into the Chicago Bears 2022 Outlook.
Schedule Breakdown
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9/11 vs. San Francisco 49ers
9/18 @ Green Bay Packers
9/25 vs. Houston Texans
10/2 @ New York Giants
10/9 @ Minnesota Vikings
10/13 vs. Washington Commanders (Thursday Night Football)
10/24 @ New England Patriots (Monday Night Football
10/30 @ Dallas Cowboys
11/6 vs. Miami Dolphins
11/13 vs. Detroit Lions
11/20 @ Atlanta Falcons
11/27 @ New York Jets
12/4 vs. Green Bay Packers
12/11 BYE
12/18 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
12/24 vs. Buffalo Bills
1/1 @ Detroit Lions
1/8 vs. Minnesota Vikings
This is doable. In their 1st 6 games they have 4 winnable spots. Week 1 against Trey Lance and the 49ers, home for the Texans win week 3, at the Giants in week 4, and a home Thursday night game against Washington. They can split those games. The 2 divisional road games are tough, but I think the Vikings game is more gettable than the Packers game. Back-to-back road games against the Patriots and Cowboys are tough. The Pats are on Monday Night Football, and 11 games after their Thursday night tilt against Washington. There are some more wins to be had in the 5 weeks leading up to their bye week. Back to back home games against Miami and Detroit, the 2 on the road against the Falcons and Jets, and a home game against Green Bay. I think they get the game in Atlanta. Th3 last 4 games of the year are really tough. I don’t think they win any of them.
Prediction: 3-14 (Wins vs. Houston, Washington, and @ Atlanta)
Key Additions
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This is going to be short and sweet… just like the free agent period for the Bears.
DT Justin Jones (Los Angeles Chargers); 2-years/$12 million
G Lucan Patrick (Green Bay Packers)/ 2-year/$8 million
WR Byron Pringle (Kansas City Chiefs)/ 1-year/$4.125 million
LF Riley Reiff (Washington Commanders)/ 1-year/$3 million
Fantasy Outlook
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Running back David Montgomery is a legit RB2 entering the fantasy football draft season. The problem with Montgomery is upside. In this offense there most likely won’t be enough upside for running backs. defenses are going to stack the box and force Fields to throw the ball until he can prove on a consistent basis that he can do that. There is some real value for Darnell Mooney. Mooney led the team in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He is a real deep threat in the league. If you can snag him as a Flex player, you’re sitting pretty. If you’re in a super flex or a 2 quarterback league, the Justin Fields is worth taking a flyer on.
Best Case Scenario
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There is a world where the Bears start off 4-2. The Dolphins game is the second of back-to-back road games, a notorious bad spot for the road team. The Lions, Falcons, and Jets are not head and shoulders above the Bears. Then a week 18 home game against a divisional opponent. This team could be fighting for a playoff spot by the time December rolls around.
Best case scenario: 9-8 (wins vs. San Francisco, Houston, Giants, Commanders, Dolphins, Lions, Falcons, Jets, and Vikings)