From: Charles Rex Aborgast (AP Photo)
What is the most dangerous thing to put on a franchise and fanbase that has been tortured for nearly 40 years? Expectations. With the selection of Caleb Williams, the Bears have just done that. Football in the Windy City has been grasping at straws since the "Double Doink" incident. Last year, the Bears ranked 24th in the NFL in Dropback EPA/play. In layman's terms, they were not the best at throwing the football. Halas Hall hopes Caleb can change that. The other side of the ball? No worries. The question now becomes, can the 2024 Bears make a leap offensively and land themselves back in the playoffs?
The Rollercoaster That Was 2023
Heading into 2023, Bears fans felt hopeful. Justin Fields showed promise. Ryan Poles traded the first overall pick for DJ Moore in a massive haul. The secondary was looking to be one of the best in football. Then, the ball was kicked and the Packers kicked their teeth in for an hour in Soldier Field. Not a fun time.
After losing a heartbreaker in Detroit, the Bears stood at 3-8. That game could have been the breaking point for Chicago. It wasn't. Before that game, Ryan Poles made another trade: a second round pick for star Defensive End Montez Sweat. Sweat's first game was not ideal, then he settled in. The Bears ended the 2023 season going 4-2, for a record of 7-10. A strong finish once again gave hope to Chicago.
From: NFL/X
Draft Day
The offseason following the 2023 season was going to show what Ryan Poles and the front office thought about the future of the franchise. With the first pick in the draft, questions arose about the QB room. Do they trade down again for another massive haul? Should they stick and pick their favorite player, say Marvin Harrison Jr.? Do they stick and pick a QB, likely Caleb Williams?
Ryan Poles decided to go with what was behind door number three, selecting USC QB Caleb Williams at the 1st overall pick. Then the Bears had another pick in the Top-10 thanks to the Bryce Young/DJ Moore trade the year prior. They again addressed the offense, taking Washington WR and close friend of Williams, Rome Odunze. The Bears revamped their offense in just two picks.
A Record-Breaker in Chicago?
Caleb Williams and the receiving core isn't the only thing that changed this offseason. Chicago also brought in new OC Shane Waldron from Seattle. They signed D'Andre Swift away from Philly as well. Da Bears have a litany of weapons on offense, but can the offensive line hold up? It might not matter, as Caleb's improvisational skills should negate some of the flaws. When Williams escapes the pocket, he still looks to throw. Oh, did I mention Chicago traded for Keenan Allen too? This offense has the capability to go nuclear, as we could be talking about another C.J. Stroud type of rookie season. On the other hand, if Williams has some rookie struggles, Chicago could be just fine. The Bears have never had a 4000 yard passer, and Caleb Williams is looking to change that in year one.
From: Michael Reaves (Getty Images)
The Monsters of the Midway
You may be thinking, well this article is talking about Caleb Williams, why can the offense faulter? Well, the Bears defense is going to be elite. The one question mark on the defense is the pass-rush outside of Montez Sweat. If you have watched any of the preseason, rookie Austin Booker has been a revelation. Chicago does not need Booker to be on Sweat's level, just good enough to take some of the attention off of him. Matt Eberflus' defense boasts one of the best secondaries in the league. Jaylon Johnson was one of the best corners in football last year, Kyler Gordon took a second year jump in the slot, and Tyrique Stevenson turned a corner down the stretch. They signed Kevin Byard on the backend to pair up with Jaquan Brisker. The linebackers, TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, bring a veteran presence and a sense of security. The Monsters of the Midway are back in a big way in 2024.
Super Bowl Shuffle?
In a loaded NFC North, divisional games will be a battle. Chicago has played well against both the Lions and Vikings in recent history. I will not mention Green Bay other than saying their name. Outside of the division, the Bears have one of the easiest schedules in the league. They get the Titans Week 1, and then have the Commanders, Panthers, Cardinals, and Patriots all later in the year. If the Bears can take care of business against the bad teams, and go 3-3 in the division, 10 wins seems likely. 10 wins also puts Chicago in the playoffs. After all of the offseason hype surrounding this team, can the Chicago Bears get to the playoffs behind Caleb Williams? My answer is yes, and I am impatiently waiting for noon on Sunday. Bear Down.