Can the Chicago Bears Make the Playoffs in 2023?

Over the past few years, the Chicago Bears have been a favorite in betting circles, especially when it comes to their ability to make it to the playoffs. However, the 2023 season is looking to be a tight race with several key factors that could influence their chances. In this analysis, we aim to explore the possibilities of the Chicago Bears securing a playoff spot, whether through divisional wins or in the wild card round.

Winning the Division

Winning the NFC North division would seem like the most straightforward path for the Chicago Bears. However, the division itself is in flux, making it a challenging quest. The Detroit Lions are currently trending in a positive direction, giving them a credible challenge, while the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are in uncertain waters.

Unless Aaron Rodgers remains as the signal caller and the Packers return to their former glory, the Bears stand a chance to sweep their division rivals, lock in their division lead, and secure their place in the postseason. But to achieve divisional dominance, they must avoid losing to the Lions and secure victories against the Vikings and Packers. Control over the division will require the Bears to accumulate more wins than their divisional rivals and navigate through various tiebreaker scenarios. This is because the Bears often do not have complete control over their destiny in these situations.

Wild Card Bid

Alternatively, the Chicago Bears can pursue a wild card berth. Last year, despite several close losses by narrow margins, the Bears managed to secure their spot via a combination of factors: bad luck, consequential plays on final drives, turnovers, and the desire to improve their draft position. This year, the Bears have made significant moves in free agency, and their strategies in the upcoming draft will be critical. It is reasonable to foresee that the Bears will enhance their play considerably, making them more competitive.

The path to securing a wild card spot starts with addressing the Bears' strengths and weaknesses. They must carefully schedule games against teams that are vulnerable or playing poorly at the time. Playing teams when they are off-form can maximize the Bears' chances of winning. Conversely, winning in weeks when other teams are on form will increase the competition.

Possible Schedule Analysis

Let's break down the Bears' possible schedule and the games they need to win to secure a wild card spot:

Home Games Lions: Must win Packers: Must win Vikings: Must win Falcons: Likely win, especially at home Panthers: Potential win if early in the season Broncos: Potential upset win Raiders: Possible loss due to Jimmy G factor Cardinals: Possible win, especially if late in the season Away Games Lions: Likely loss Packers: Potentially winable at Lambeau, if in November Vikings: Must win, barring any fluke results Chiefs: Expected win, if Germany match does not occur Chargers: Possible loss, due to late-season heat Saints: Possible upset win Buccaneers: Likely loss, with Baker Mayfield proving his worth Commanders: Likely win, based on last year's performance Browns: Possible win, if late in the season, or loss if early

Given a win-loss projection, where the Bears win 9 or 10 of their home games and 4 or 5 of their away games, they might secure a 12-5 record, which would likely secure a wild card berth well before the playoffs. This scenario would hinge on them having better seasons against their toughest opponents, like the Vikings, Packers, and Bears' Interconference games.

Conclusion

While the Chicago Bears have a strong possibility of making the playoffs through divisional wins or wild card competition, they face many hurdles. The team needs to focus on strategic win-loss analysis, scheduling, and onboard talent development to increase their chances. However, even with the best strategies, making it to the Super Bowl remains a distant dream for 2023.

It's crucial to stay tuned to the Bears' performance throughout the season and see if they can overcome the challenges ahead. Fans and analysts alike will be keeping a close eye on the Bears' progress in pursuit of playoff glory.