Taking An Early Look At The Bears 2023 Season

There is only one other team in the NFL whose history started with the onset of the American Professional Football Association in 1920. Only the Bears and Cardinals can lay claim to being in the league when it all began. Sadly, in the year 103 of the NFL, the Chicago Bears had one of the worst years in team history.

In 2022, the Bears had the worst record in the league, finishing a dismal 3-14. No team in Bears history had ever lost 14 games. In those 103 years, this storied franchise has finished with less than four victories in just a handful of seasons. The first season of just three wins occurred in 1945 when several players and coaches reported for duty in World War II.

The Bears would only manage three wins in 1953 and 1973, and their worst season ever, a 1-13 season occurred in 1969. In Mike Ditka’s debut season, the Bears finished 3-6, when a player’s work stoppage canceled much of the 1983 regular season. They finished the 2016 season with only three wins under John Fox.

Chicago’s 2022 season started well. On opening day on a rain-drenched Soldier Field, Justin Fields and the Bears upset the San Francisco 49ers, 19-10. After splitting their next two games to start the year 2-1, Chicago suffered three straight one-score losses.

After a convincing victory in prime time at New England, Chicago lost the last nine games of the year to finish with the league’s worst record of 3-14.

When Ryan Poles took over the reins of a team heavy in aging veterans and high-dollar contracts, he made a wise but painful decision to dismantle the team. Hicks, Mack, and Smith Quinn would be traded or let go. The defense collapsed and the offense, with a terrible Offensive Line and insufficient weapons to help second-year QB Justin Fields was seldom effective for most of the year.

The Rebuild Begins in Earnest

Ryan Poles’ task to rebuild this team is not an easy task. Unlike his predecessor, Poles has decided on a path that does not include high-priced veterans, taking up huge chunks of the salary cap. He has been clear from day one. A team that can compete for championships must be built and maintained via solid drafts every year.

This off-season, with the most cap space in the league, Poles filled some big holes on the roster. He traded the first pick overall in this year’s draft and turned that trade into acquiring an actual number one WR in D J Moore. After trading down with Carolina Poles, he selected Offensive Right Tackle Darnell Wright, who many believe was the best OT available this year. With the obvious exception of addressing the Edge position, Poles has added starters and/or depth throughout the entire roster.

After seeing the Bears fight hard all season despite their record, they lost seven games by eight points or less and held leads in several games into the 4th quarter, many anticipate an improved team this year. Some have pondered a “Worst to First” year. Polling several local Bears writers there is a mixed opinion:

Erik Lambert, Sports Mockery: 8-9

Dhruv Kohl, Sports Mockery: “I had them around 6 or 7 wins before OTAs, and I’m still there as things stand right now. I think the front office has done a remarkable job building this team back up. They’ve upgraded starting talent and depth at almost every position group. And most importantly, they’ve given Justin Fields everything he could reasonably need to prove he is the guy.”

Brendan Sugrue, The Bears Wire: Brendan chimed in with a prediction of 8-9.

Wanda Wiedman, a former writer for Our Turf Football: “Before OTAs, I was 6-12. Now after seeing the chemistry between Moore and Fields, his attention to detail, and the defense already working I will say 9-8. I am still on the fence with the D-line pass rush and the O-line protecting QB1.”

Taylor Doll, Windy City Gridiron: “I’m still so unsure. I think I need to see some things in camp. I could see 6 but I could see 10 wins.”

Faizan Qurashi, YouTuber: “Before OTAs, 8-9, Probably 9-8 now.”

Kenneth Davis, NBC Sports: Predicts a record of “7 or 8 wins.”

Lester Wiltfong Jr., Windy City Gridiron: “I had them at 10 wins on our first prediction round up and I haven’t changed since. It’s mostly built on my belief in Justin Fields taking a nice step.”

Training camp starts in just over four weeks. What record are you predicting for the Bears in 2023? Leave your comments below.