2011 Bears Predictions

L vs. FALCONS - A tough opponent for the Bears to open up with, Atlanta is definitely a playoff caliber team. Not to mention, the Bears are a very weak team in their first game, at least in the past few years.

W @ Saints - I don't buy the hype that New Orleans is getting this year. They embarrassed themselves last year in the playoffs, and didn't even look all that strong in the regular season. Their major off-season story was re-signing Reggie Bush, an overrated bust.

L vs. PACKERS - This one could go either way. Green Bay is looking like the best team in the NFL this year, but the Bear fans and players will be hungry for revenge after last year's NFC Championship loss in Chicago. I'm marking it down as a loss, but look for an upset special.

W @ PANTHERS - Carolina is falling apart, drafting yet another QB in the first round, they seem to be run by people who know nothing about football. They won't be any good this year, and the Bears will steamroll through Charlotte, NC, for their first easy win of the season.

W @ Lions - Detroit will be much improved this year, but I still see them finishing behind the Bears. Just like the Green Bay game, though, this one could go either way, but it will go down as a win in my predictions.

W vs. VIKINGS - The Vikings will finish last in the division and return to the mediocrity that they have enjoyed for many years prior to their little run with Brett Favre. Expect two easy wins against Minny.

W @ Buccaneers (London) - Another toss-up here, although playing in London gives an advantage to the Bears, as it is a Bucs home game. Probably a loss if it was in Tampa, but the nuetrality makes this one a toss-up. I will put it down as a "W" though, because I believe the Bears defense can handle Tampa's offense, a key match-up in this one.

L @ Eagles - The Eagles were the most improved team in this short off-season we have had, and they will be very good. I don't see the Bears making that much noise going into Philly.

W vs. LIONS - As mentioned above, the Lions will be much improved this year, and I marked the game at Ford Field as a toss-up, but Soldier Field will prove advantegous for Chicago, and I think they take care of buisness at home.

W vs. CHARGERS - San Diego is another team that I believe is getting more hype than they deserve. They will be in the playoffs this year, but only because the division they play in is so weak. The Bears will get this one at home.

L @ Raiders - Here is my official "Upset Special" for the 2011 season. I don't think the Raiders are going to be that great this year, but they have been improving and should be a little bit better than in past years. More importantly, this is usually the point in the season at which the Bears lose a game that they are expected to win (or in last year's case, two games against Seattle and Washington. Oakland over the Bears by the Bay.

W vs. CHIEFS - The Chiefs raised a few eyebrows last year after making the playoffs, but they do not lack the depth to keep up, and I don't see them returning to the post-season this year. The Bears shouldn't have too much trouble putting them away at home.

W @ Broncos - I don't see the Broncos making much noise this year, either. A weakening AFC West may get them a couple wins, but don't expect anything big. Kyle Orton is a great QB, he just needs some other great players to work with, and I don't see that happening this year.

W vs. SEAHAWKS - With off-season aquisitions Matt Leinart and Tavaris Jackson, Seattle is looking to re-build their offense to what it once was when Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander were in their primes. It's not going to happen overnight, though. Seattle will be helpless in this game, especially without the 12th Man.

L @ Packers - The Packers will most likely be in first place at this point in the season (I went through their schedule and had them at 13-3) and I see them sweeping Chicago this season. The Bears may have a chance a a Wild Card spot, but I'm on board with everyone else's prediction that Green Bay will be very good this year.

W @ Vikings - Like stated above, Minnesota is going to be terrible this year, and the Bears will beat them twice. I love Donovan McNabb, but he is past his prime, and Chrisitian Ponder will take a few years to settle in.

So, I have the Bears at 11-5, with a few games to give or take. In addition to the toss-ups, there are always one or two games that I see as a victory and they end up losing, so the Bears could easily end up at 10-6 or 9-7.