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.

Texas vs. the Nation Alumni of the Week

This weeks Texas vs. the Nation Alumni of the week is wide receiver Johnny Knox. Even though the Chicago Bears lost to the Cincinnati Bengals this past Sunday 45-10, Texas vs the Nation alumni Johnny Knox had a good game to continue his outstanding rookie season. In Sunday’s game he has 4 catches for 42 yards, bring his season total to 21 catches for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had 7 kick returns for 151 yards, bring his season total to 18 kick returns for 522 yards (29.0 average) and 1 touchdown. He has become the Bears number three wide receiver and they see him having a bigger role as the season goes along. He has great speed and the ability to get in and out of cuts and his hands and getting better each week. He has been a pleasant surprise for the Chicago Bears and their fans this season.