Power Ranking Number 16: Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears offense starts and end with the play of quarterback Jay Cutler, and last season that play wasn’t very good and he needs to play better this season if the Bears want to have a chance to make the playoffs. The Bears brought in Mike Martz as offensive coordinator to help Cutler and open up the Bears offense. Running back Matt Forte production dropped in his second season going from a 1,200 rusher and 12 total touchdowns to a 900 yard rusher and only 4 total touchdowns, he will need to step it up in his third year in the NFL. That is one reason that they signed running back Chester Taylor in the off-season and he will be given a number of carries this season. Wide receiver Johnny Knox had a good rookie season as a receiver and a kick return and end up going to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner. But the Bears still need some receivers to step up this season and make plays for Cutler.

On defense they brought in defense end Julius Peppers as a free-agent and expect him to provide a pass rush of the edge. They get back middle linebacker Brian Urlacher back who missed most of the season last year because of a wrist injury and he should also help the defense. But there are still some major question marks in the secondary and they will need to find some playmakers back there.

The Bears offense should be better this season and so should the defense, the team hasn’t made the playoffs since they lost the Super Bowl, four years ago but they can make a run at it this season, but they need to stay healthy.