By Eric “Big E” Jacinto
2013 Chicago Bears
2012 Record: 10-6 (3rd in NFC North); Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Marc Trestman (First Season)
2013 Chicago Bears’ Schedule: click here to view!
The Bears enter the 2013 season with a new coach for first time since 2004. After having fired Lovie Smith, who spent nine years as head coach and lead them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2006 against the Indianapolis Colts, they hired Marc Trestman, who coached in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes from 2009-2013, and won back-to-back Grey Cup Championships in 2009 and 2010. Trestman was a shocker of a hire around the league, as no one foresaw the Bears hiring a former CFL head coach.
The Bears added an important weapon for Jay Cutler by signing former Giants TE, Martellus Bennett. The Bears and longtime LB Brain Urlacher decided to part ways in the off-season, at which time Urlacher annouced his retirement from football.
Bears’ Off-Season Moves:
Key Additions: Martellus Bennett, (TE, Free Agent), Jermon Bushrod, (OT, Free Agent), D.J. Williams, (ILB, Free Agent).
Key Departures: D.J. Moore, (CB/Nickelback, Signed with Carolina Panthers), Brian Urlacher, (LB, Retired), Johnny Knox, (WR/Return Specialist, Released).
Big E’s Bears Thoughts and Predictions:
The Bears are a solid NFL team, with one of the best QB and WR combos in the NFL in Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. If Cutler can be the QB that he was in Denver the Bears could surprise some people and win the NFC North (we have heard this question asked before). Most importantly, the offensive line must protect Cutler more than it has the past few seasons for him and the team to have any success.
Biggest Question heading into the season: How will Jay Cutler fare in the new offense under an unproven and hardly known CFL coach?
Big E’s Prediction:
10-6 (2nd in NFC North; Wild Card Berth): The Bears will sneak into the playoffs as the last NFC Wild Card team and could possibly make it back to the NFC Championship game. This begs the question: “Will they actually make it to the Championship game?” I say no, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they did. Their balanced offense should allow them to make a run deep into the playoffs. How deep they go simply depends on whether Jay Cutler can finally be that elite QB people have been saying he is, and leads a team to the Super Bowl.
Thanks for reading! ~BigE
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Edited by: Todd LaPlante