The Bears '25 preseason

[Lake Shore Drive]

I figured it's time to start a new post-draft thread which will lead up to the start of the '25 campaign. Until rookie camps, followed by team camps commence, we're kinda in limbo land here. Outside of the rumor that we may or may not sign Nick Chubb, about the only info that is generating any ink are all those preseason power rankings, such as this one here by the USA Today:

NFL power rankings: Where all 32 teams stand following the 2025 draft

With the 2025 NFL draft now in the books, it's time to take a look at where all 32 teams slot the season now only four months away.

www.usatoday.com

19. Chicago Bears (16): Did you know they haven't won a playoff game in 14 years? Perhaps the organizational penchant for disarray quells what looks like a very good team on paper – for the second year in a row. But let's give highly recommended rookie HC Ben Johnson and his new staff a year to settle in before they're forced to prove these aren't the same old Bears.

Most of the rankings I've seen have the Bears in the 16-18 range, with this one just a tick lower. It also points out, perhaps accurately, that our boyz may need a year to settle in with the new staff, as well as a roster filled with plenty of new faces. I imagine there will still be some important changes to come, with various team cuts and post-cut signings, for most of the league. Oh, and the fact that it's been 14 years since we've won a playoff game? Talk about pathetic.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

I figured it's time to start a new post-draft thread which will lead up to the start of the '25 campaign. Until rookie camps, followed by team camps commence, we're kinda in limbo land here. Outside of the rumor that we may or may not sign Nick Chubb, about the only info that is generating any ink are all those preseason power rankings, such as this one here by the USA Today:

NFL power rankings: Where all 32 teams stand following the 2025 draft

With the 2025 NFL draft now in the books, it's time to take a look at where all 32 teams slot the season now only four months away.

www.usatoday.com

19. Chicago Bears (16): Did you know they haven't won a playoff game in 14 years? Perhaps the organizational penchant for disarray quells what looks like a very good team on paper – for the second year in a row. But let's give highly recommended rookie HC Ben Johnson and his new staff a year to settle in before they're forced to prove these aren't the same old Bears.

Most of the rankings I've seen have the Bears in the 16-18 range, with this one just a tick lower. It also points out, perhaps accurately, that our boyz may need a year to settle in with the new staff, as well as a roster filled with plenty of new faces. I imagine there will still be some important changes to come, with various team cuts and post-cut signings, for most of the league. Oh, and the fact that it's been 14 years since we've won a playoff game? Talk about pathetic.

I think we make a huge jump. Most of the struggle comes from the starting QB, but I think Caleb is different. I bet this offense is humming by week 4 and we make the playoffs.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

I think we make a huge jump. Most of the struggle comes from the starting QB, but I think Caleb is different. I bet this offense is humming by week 4 and we make the playoffs.

Those first few weeks will be telling. If we can get off to a decent start offensively, it could carry us all season long. There's no doubt we have the weapons and our protection has definitely been improved. The question now is how quickly will it all gel.

 

[wood20ks]

The question now is how quickly will it all gel.

As I said last season,theres a lot of players who want the rock and theres not enough to go around.....
It will take them a bit to know their jobs.....
I just hope DJ doesn't pull his whiny self and walk off the field again in the middle of a play if this happens......

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

The one thing I want to touch upon maybe contradicts my original take, which involves Ben Johnson and his penchant for utilizing the 12 personnel in a sizable portion of his plays. Way back when the intial rumblings started that the Bears might use the 10th pick on the TE position based on Johnson's usage of the two tight ends, I pointed out that the vast majority of actual plays targeted only Sam LaPorta, that the other TE was there strictly for blocking. All one has to do is check out the stats to confirm this.

While this approach may not radically change with the Bears, there is a major difference here. Unlike with the Lions, when the Bears trot out their two TEs, BOTH will be potential targets. It doesn't necessarily mean Johnson will send both out, altho I can see at times where this does happen. But what it will do is force the opposing D to treat both players as realistic targets. They won't have the luxury of focusing primarily on one. I think Johnson can and will exploit this thruout the campaign.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

As I said last season,theres a lot of players who want the rock and theres not enough to go around.....
It will take them a bit to know their jobs.....
I just hope DJ doesn't pull his whiny self and walk off the field again in the middle of a play if this happens......

Well stated. There are no doubt plenty of mouths to feed this year. It wouldn't shock me if no single receiver hits the 1k mark in reception yardage.

 

[BearsWillWin]

I just hope DJ doesn't pull his whiny self and walk off the field again in the middle of a play if this happens......

He quite literally got hurt on that play.

When you watch the play he hobbles at the end of it and is already out of bounds so he walks to the bench.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Here's a projected 53 man roster from Bears Wire:

Bears 53-man roster projection after 2025 NFL draft

With the 2025 NFL draft in the books, here's a look at our latest 53-man roster projection for the Bears.

bearswire.usatoday.com

This doesn't take into account who the Bears might add between now and the start of the season, which of course makes sense. It does have all our draft picks making the squad. That's no given if Poles continues to ink any free agents or other teams cuts in the coming months. The same with any current veteran on our team who might be on the bubble.

 

[richig07]

I figured it's time to start a new post-draft thread which will lead up to the start of the '25 campaign. Until rookie camps, followed by team camps commence, we're kinda in limbo land here. Outside of the rumor that we may or may not sign Nick Chubb, about the only info that is generating any ink are all those preseason power rankings, such as this one here by the USA Today:

NFL power rankings: Where all 32 teams stand following the 2025 draft

With the 2025 NFL draft now in the books, it's time to take a look at where all 32 teams slot the season now only four months away.

www.usatoday.com

19. Chicago Bears (16): Did you know they haven't won a playoff game in 14 years? Perhaps the organizational penchant for disarray quells what looks like a very good team on paper – for the second year in a row. But let's give highly recommended rookie HC Ben Johnson and his new staff a year to settle in before they're forced to prove these aren't the same old Bears.

Most of the rankings I've seen have the Bears in the 16-18 range, with this one just a tick lower. It also points out, perhaps accurately, that our boyz may need a year to settle in with the new staff, as well as a roster filled with plenty of new faces. I imagine there will still be some important changes to come, with various team cuts and post-cut signings, for most of the league. Oh, and the fact that it's been 14 years since we've won a playoff game? Talk about pathetic.

This is how I feel, as well.

Can a smart, new HC come in and completely turn the culture around? Do a 180 with an offense? Start winning immediately? Of course! We've seen it plenty.

It takes some good fortune, though. It takes everything gelling correctly, having a good season on the injury front, etc. I've watched enough Bears football by now to know that we can't just bank on that. lol

I do 100% believe that this roster, on paper is a playoff ready team. However, a lot of that depends on CW developing as we all hope he will. If he doesn't? That changes things. I could also see a scenario where we have an up/down first half. A few really great performances and a few "WTF?" sort of games.

Regardless of the first half of this season, my goal is that by the second half? We start to move, we start to gel, Caleb is showing TANGIBLE signs of improvement, and we're figuring out how to win games. Will that get us to January and a playoff game? I hope! Maybe we do go 8-9, though, and 2026 becomes the year of big expectations?

Is the rest of our division going to be historically good again? That also plays a factor. I suspect not... but who knows?

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

I do 100% believe that this roster, on paper is a playoff ready team. However, a lot of that depends on CW developing as we all hope he will. If he doesn't? That changes things. I could also see a scenario where we have an up/down first half. A few really great performances and a few "WTF?" sort of games.

Very much in agreement - the talent is evident, but there are always those what-if factors that could easily derail our expectations.

Maybe we do go 8-9, though, and 2026 becomes the year of big expectations?

Things can always change, but at this moment, 8-9 is what I'm prepared to post in here come official predictions time. I'd rather temper any hopes for a playoff-bound season, only to get burned like last year when I predicted a 10-7 finish. After all, we're talking about our beloved but wackyful Bears here.

 

[wood20ks]

I was looking at this schedule last night,and it looks tough as hell imo:



On paper we look a hella lot better than last season.....but so has a few of our opponents.
I hope we get the Redskins( ya the Redskins) right out of the gate......
That game seemed to be the end of a good start to the season......
Or GB.....I just wanna see us beat them with them at full strength,and not a backup qb........

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Our road schedule (9 games) looks to be a lot more brutal than the games we get at home (8 games), at least that's how it looks on paper.

 

[wood20ks]

Our road schedule (9 games) looks to be a lot more brutal than the games we get at home (8 games), at least that's how it looks on paper.

We definetley look like we got some give-me's at home.
That Dallas game looks to be tough,maybe our toughest opponent at home.

 

[BearsWillWin]

That Dallas game looks to be tough,maybe our toughest opponent at home.

Half the teams we face at home were playoff teams last season. Dallas isn't one of them.

How is the Dallas game the toughest home game?

 

[wood20ks]

Half the teams we face at home were playoff teams last season. Dallas isn't one of them.

How is the Dallas game the toughest home game?

I actually like the addition of Pickens....their first pick was an olinema they needed....picked up Najee Harris who is better than any backup rb they had last season.....so they got a nice 1-2 punch.....
Not too mention Dak will start off the season healthy......and if he can stay there.
But JJ will interfere and ruin it all.
And a first time HC in Schottenhiemer will be question mark.

Steelers Briwns and Saints.....give me's.....

Minnesota,not sure how well McCarthy will do,its basically a rookie starting this year.
Detroit is not as goid as their season record showed either.
And GB is overrated imo......

All 3 1 and done in the playoffs show our division is not as tough as it looked......

 

[BearsWillWin]

Steelers Briwns and Saints.....give me's.....

When you're a 5 win team with a rookie coach...there is no such thing as a gimme.

Detroit is not as goid as their season record showed either.
And GB is overrated imo......

K.

All 3 1 and done in the playoffs show our division is not as tough as it looked......

Or it just shows the playoffs are hard. Detroit was missing significant contributors to it's roster, especially on defense. Minny was kind of an anomaly last year but that roster is solid outside of QB.

We've reached that point of the offseason yet again where Bears fans are counting chickens before they hatch and making wild assumptions.

 

[wood20ks]

When you're a 5 win team with a rookie coach...there is no such thing as a gimme.

We were better than that 5 win team.....Eberlose lost a few games by bonehead coaching himself......

Or it just shows the playoffs are hard. Detroit was missing significant contributors to it's roster, especially on defense. Minny was kind of an anomaly last year but that roster is solid outside of QB.

We've reached that point of the offseason yet again where Bears fans are counting chickens before they hatch and making wild assumptions.

Playoffs are hard,but a 15 win team can't beat a a rookie qb,on a team thats not really that good.....??
Even after a weeks rest??
I dont care if they were missing Hutchinson or not,they got their asses kicked.....Detroit wont win 15 games this year.....
And I was never a believer in Minnesota......Dalton really showed his true colors towards the end of the season and I highly doubt McCarthy comes close to Daltons season......
Jordan Love is foolsgold.....

And I never said one thing about our team.......I don't know what to expect......
I just hope we have enough defense to keep us in games.

 

[BearsWillWin]

We were better than that 5 win team.....Eberlose lost a few games by bonehead coaching himself......

At the end of the day...they won five games. Point in any direction you want...the record is the record.

Playoffs are hard,but a 15 win team can't beat a a rookie qb,on a team thats not really that good.....??
Even after a weeks rest??

Missing a large portion of their team because they are on IR. Let's not leave that part out.

I dont care if they were missing Hutchinson or not,they got their asses kicked..

You don't care they were missing their best defensive player but easily excuse the Bears for having a bad coach.

Either you like excuses or you don't. Which is it?

.Detroit wont win 15 games this year.....

Maybe, maybe not. Still a good roster with a good head coach.

And I was never a believer in Minnesota.

What are you believer in? Homerisms for sure.

And I never said one thing about our team.......I don't know what to expect......

Again...Detroit definitely won't win 15 games but you give the Bears gimmes. Just make it make sense.

 

[wood20ks]

At the end of the day...they won five games. Point in any direction you want...the record is the record.


Missing a large portion of their team because they are on IR. Let's not leave that part out.


You don't care they were missing their best defensive player but easily excuse the Bears for having a bad coach.

Either you like excuses or you don't. Which is it?


Maybe, maybe not. Still a good roster with a good head coach.


What are you believer in? Homerisms for sure.


Again...Detroit definitely won't win 15 games but you give the Bears gimmes. Just make it make sense.

K

 

[wood20ks]

The schedule release is due on Wednesday.....please no overseas game.