Chicago Bears 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Justin Fields, RB Khalil Herbert, WR Chase Claypool, WR Darnell Mooney, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, TE Cole Kmet, OC Cody Whitehair, OG Teven Jenkins, OT Braxton Jones, DE Trevis Gipson, DE Dominique Robinson, DT Justin Jones, LB Jack Sanborn, CB Jaylon Johnson, CB Jaylon Jones, CB Kindle Vildor, NB Kyler Gordon, FS Eddie Jackson, SS Jaquan Brisker, KR Velus Jones Jr., PR Dante Pettis, PK Cairo Santos and PT Trenton Gill.

Key Players Departing:

RB David Montgomery (Lions), OG Nate Davis (Titans), DT Armon Watts (Steelers), LB Nick Marrow (Eagles), LB Roquan Smith (Ravens), LB Joe Thomas (UFA), DS Deandre Houston-Carson (UFA) and PT Michael Badgley (Lions).

Key Players Added:

RB D’Onta Foreman (Panthers), WR DJ Moore (Panthers), DE DeMarcus Walker (Titans), DT Andrew Billings (Raiders), LB Tremaine Edmunds (Bills) and LB TJ Edwards (Eagles).

Draft Picks:

Round 1: 
Pick 010 – OT Darnell Wright (Tennessee)
Round 2:  Pick 053 – DT Gervon Dexter (Florida)
Round 2:  Pick 056 – CB Tyrique Stevenson (Miami, FL)
Round 3:  Pick 064 – DT Zacch Pickens (South Carolina)
Round 4:  Pick 115 – RB Roschon Johnson (Texas)
Round 4:  Pick 133 – WR Tyler Scott (Cincinnati)
Round 5:  Pick 148 – LB Noah Sewell (Oregon)
Round 5:  Pick 165 – CB Terell Smith (Minnesota)
Round 7:  Pick 218 – DT Travis Bell (Kennesaw State)
Round 7:  Pick 258 – S Kendall Williamson (Stanford)

2022 Results:

W01  49ERS  W  19-10
W02  @ Packers  L  10-27
W03  TEXANS  W  23-20
W04  @ Giants  L  12-20
W05  @ Vikings  L  22-29
W06  COMMANDERS  L  7-12
W07  @ Patriots  W  33-14
W08  @ Cowboys  L  29-49
W09  DOLPHINS  L  32-35
W10  LIONS  L  30-31
W11  @ Falcons  L  24-27
W12  @ Jets  L  10-31
W13  PACKERS  L  19-28
W15  EAGLES  L  20-25
W16  BILLS  L  13-35
W17  @ Lions  L  10-41
W18  VIKINGS  L  13-29

Team Info:

2022:  3-14 (4th in NFC North)

Home:  2-7
Road:  1-7
North:  0-6
NFC:  1-11
AFC:  2-3

Head Coach:  Matt Eberflus

Chicago:  3-14
Career:  3-14
Playoffs:  0-0

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Justin Fields (192-318, 2242 yards, 60.4%, 7.1 avg., 17 TD, 11 INT)
Rushing:  Justin Fields (169 car., 1143 yards, 7.1 avg., 8 TD)
Receiving: 
Cole Kmet (50 rec., 544 yards, 10.9 avg., 7 TD)
Yards After Catch: 
Darnell Mooney (381)
TD’s Scored: 
Cole Kmet (286)
Sacks: 
Jaquan Brisker (4)
Tackles: 
Jaquan Brisker (104)
Interceptions: 
Eddie Jackson (4)
Pass Deflections: 
Jaylon Johnson (7)
Tackles For Loss:
 Justin jones (12)
Forced Fumbles:  Eddie Jackson (2)
Kick Returners: 
Velus Jones Jr. (22 ret., 607 yards, 27.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returners:  Dante Pettis (18 ret., 163 yards, 9.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Cairo Santos (21-23 fg/fga., 91%, 27-32 xp/xpa., 90 pts.)
Punting:  Trenton Gill (66 punts, 3038 yards, 46.0 avg., 20 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  1  Justin Fields
RB:  21  D’Onta Foreman
WR:  2  DJ Moore
WR:  10  Chase Claypool
WR:  11  Darnell Mooney
TE:  85  Cole Kmet
LT:  70  Braxton Jones
LG:  76  Teven Jenkins
OC:  65  Cody Whitehair
RG:  64  Nate Davis
RT:  58  Darnell Wright |R|
KR:  12  Velus Jones Jr.
PK:  8  Cairo Santos

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  95  DeMarcus Walker
DT:  93  Justin Jones
NT:  97  Andrew Billings
DE:  99  Trevis Gipson
LB:  53  TJ Edwards
LB:  49  Tremaine Edmunds
NB:  6  Kyler Gordon
CB:  33  Jaylon Johnson
CB:  29  Tyrique Stevenson
FS:  4  Eddie Jackson
SS:  9  Jaquan Brisker
PR:  86  Dante Pettic
PT:  16  Trenton Gill

Team Grades:

Offense:

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  C
Offense Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  A
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  B
Kickers:  A
Punters:  A

Schedule:

09/10 
PACKERS  |  Chicago trails the series 42-71.  The Bears are 3-17 since 2013 and their last series home win (24-17) was in 2018.

09/17  @ Buccaneers  |  Chicago leads the series 40-21.  The Bears lost (3-38) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

09/24  @ Chiefs  |  Chicago leads the series 7-6.  The Bears lost (3-26) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

10/01  BRONCOS  |  The series is tied 8-8.  The Bears won (16-14) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

10/05  @ Commanders  |  Chicago trails the series 10-19.  The Bears are 1-4 since 2013 and their last series win (31-15) was in 2019.

10/15  VIKINGS  |  Chicago trails the series 51-62-1.  The Bears are 8-12 since 2013 and their last series home win (16-6) was in 2019.

10/22  RAIDERS  |   The series is tied 8-8.  The Bears won (20-9) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

10/29  @ Chargers  |  Chicago leads the series 7-6.  The Bears lost (16-17) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

11/05  @ Saints  |  Chicago trails the series 15-18.  The Bears lost (23-26 OT) the last regular season meeting between teams in 2020.

11/09  PANTHERS  |  Chicago leads the series 7-4.  The Bears won (23-16) the last meeting between teams in 2020.

11/19  @ Lions  |  Chicago leads the series 57-55-1.  The Bears are 8-12 since 2013 and their last series road win (16-14) was in 2021.

11/27  @ Vikings  |  The Bears least series road win (33-27) was in 2020.

12/10 
LIONS  |  The Bears last series home win (24-14) was in 2021.

12/16  @ Browns  |  Chicago trails the series 6-7.  The Bears lost (6-26) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

12/24  CARDINALS  |  Chicago leads the series 11-10.  The Bears lost (22-33) the last meeting between teams in 2021.

12/31  FALCONS  |  Chicago leads the series 15-14.  The Bears lost (24-27) last season’s meeting between teams and their last series win (30-26) was in 2020.

01/07  @ Packers  |  The Bears last series road win (17-13) was in 2015.

Prediction:

Home:  6-2
Road:  6-3
North:  4-2
NFC:  7-5
AFC:  5-0

Overall:  12-5 (1st in NFC North – Eliminated by Eagles in Conference Game)

UFA:  Unrestricted Free Agent

Series Histories:  Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day.  Meetings prior to 1966 are not included.  Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place.  For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2023, the game will be listed under the 2022 season.