The Bears ended the 2022-23 season with the worst record in the NFL (3-14). They needed and major offseason and they did just that. Trading away the number 1 pick was the first step in the right direction. The Bears had a ton of weaknesses and really did well to start addressing them.
Offense
The offense was a complete imbalance between rushing and passing compared to the league. The Bears ranked 1st in rush yards per game and last in passing yards per game. Justin Fields provided some very exciting run plays, but there needs to be more balance. The Bears bring in DJ Moore to help at wide receiver.
Below we see rush-heavy the Bears were last season.
The biggest concerns going into the season are still that wide receiver group and the offensive line. They were addressed in the off-season, but until they take significant steps forward, the Bears won’t be able to reach their potential.
Defense
Major updates were made to the linebacking core. Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards both signed multi-year deals to bolster that area. The secondary is young, but very talented. The biggest concern is the line.
The Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | NFL Rank |
| 9/10 | Packers | Home | 21 |
| 9/17 | Buccaneers | Away | 30 |
| 9/24 | Chiefs | Away | 1 |
| 10/1 | Broncos | Home | 18 |
| 10/5 | Commanders | Away | 26 |
| 10/15 | Vikings | Home | 14 |
| 10/22 | Raiders | Home | 25 |
| 10/29 | Chargers | Away | 9 |
| 11/5 | Saints | Away | 20 |
| 11/9 | Panthers | Home | 27 |
| 11/19 | Lions | Away | 13 |
| 11/27 | Vikings | Away | 14 |
| 12/10 | Lions | Home | 13 |
| 12/17 | Browns | Away | 12 |
| 12/24 | Cardinals | Home | 32 |
| 12/31 | Falcons | Home | 22 |
| 1/7 | Packers | Away | 21 |
When looking at this schedule, it really doesn’t look that difficult. They only play two teams in the Top 10 preseason rankings in the NFL. Kansas City week 2, obviously that will be tough, and the LA Chargers week 8. If you’re curious, the Bears themselves rank 24th, but the easy schedule definitely provides some opportunities.