vincentvega
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Obviously past performance is not indicitive of future results especially regarding NFL teams but I thought this was an interesting piece nevertheless (even though it is from yahoo contributor netowrk)...Also thought it was amusing that we will be playing against Lovie, Tice and marinelli this year on three different teams..
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chicago-bears-five-observations-2014-schedule-152100044--nfl.html
COMMENTARY | The actual schedule for the 2014 NFL season has not been released yet, but we already know who plays who, we just don't know when.
For the 8-8 Chicago Bears, 2013-2014 -- even at nine months away -- looks fearsome. Here are five semi-random, potentially significant observations about who the Bears have on the docket next season.
They will face former coaches Lovie Smith (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Rod Marinelli (Dallas Cowboys), and Mike Tice (Atlanta Falcons)
This is more of a curiosity than it is a measurement of opponent strength, but the Bears will face three previous coaches throughout the 2014 season --coaches who still have player ties to the Bears. Smith was the Bears' head coach from 2004-2012, Marinelli was with the Bears from 2009-2012, and Tice was in Chicago from 2010-2012, spending time as the offensive line coach as well as offensive coordinator.
These three games are difficult to classify (especially nine months away) because it seems foolish to think the Falcons are as bad as they were this season. Dallas in perennially inconsistent, and Tampa Bay should only improve under Smith's leadership.
They play five of the top 10 defensive units from 2013
Looking at points surrendered per game, the Bears play the Carolina Panthers (2nd), San Francisco 49ers (3rd), New Orleans Saints (4th), Miami Dolphins (8th), and the New England Patriots (10th) next season.
Even with some overhaul, it's logical to think the Bears' defense will still leave something to be desired, so the offense will have to continue to make strides against quality defensive units. But one good thing is...
They play six games against the bottom 10 defensive units from 2013
With two games against the Minnesota Vikings (32nd), one against the Falcons (27th) and Cowboys (26th), and two against the Green Bay Packers (24th), the Bears' offense will have plenty of opportunities to stretch their legs against less-than-stellar units.
The combined home record of the Bears' road opponents next season was 43-20-1 in 2013
Of the Bears' eight upcoming road opponents, four of them won at least six games at home in 2013 -- Patriots (8), Panthers (7), 49ers (6), New York Jets (6). Three of the remaining four are divisional opponents, which are never easy. Oddly enough, the combined away record of the teams coming to Soldier Field in 2014 this season was the exact opposite -- 20-43-1.
Remember how bad the Bears' rushing defense was this season? Of course you do...
Next season, the Bears will play half of their games against teams who ranked in the top 10 for rushing yards. The Panthers, at 11th, would make for a ninth.
After the Bears gave up a franchise-worst 2,583 yards rushing (5.3 yards per carry, good for dead last in the league) this season, the schedule doesn't get any more forgiving next season -- the huge stipulation being that rosters can go under quite a bit of overhaul between January and September.
Regardless, we better hope the Bears tighten up a few of those gaping holes, otherwise another .500 finish isn't out of the question.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chicago-bears-five-observations-2014-schedule-152100044--nfl.html
COMMENTARY | The actual schedule for the 2014 NFL season has not been released yet, but we already know who plays who, we just don't know when.
For the 8-8 Chicago Bears, 2013-2014 -- even at nine months away -- looks fearsome. Here are five semi-random, potentially significant observations about who the Bears have on the docket next season.
They will face former coaches Lovie Smith (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Rod Marinelli (Dallas Cowboys), and Mike Tice (Atlanta Falcons)
This is more of a curiosity than it is a measurement of opponent strength, but the Bears will face three previous coaches throughout the 2014 season --coaches who still have player ties to the Bears. Smith was the Bears' head coach from 2004-2012, Marinelli was with the Bears from 2009-2012, and Tice was in Chicago from 2010-2012, spending time as the offensive line coach as well as offensive coordinator.
These three games are difficult to classify (especially nine months away) because it seems foolish to think the Falcons are as bad as they were this season. Dallas in perennially inconsistent, and Tampa Bay should only improve under Smith's leadership.
They play five of the top 10 defensive units from 2013
Looking at points surrendered per game, the Bears play the Carolina Panthers (2nd), San Francisco 49ers (3rd), New Orleans Saints (4th), Miami Dolphins (8th), and the New England Patriots (10th) next season.
Even with some overhaul, it's logical to think the Bears' defense will still leave something to be desired, so the offense will have to continue to make strides against quality defensive units. But one good thing is...
They play six games against the bottom 10 defensive units from 2013
With two games against the Minnesota Vikings (32nd), one against the Falcons (27th) and Cowboys (26th), and two against the Green Bay Packers (24th), the Bears' offense will have plenty of opportunities to stretch their legs against less-than-stellar units.
The combined home record of the Bears' road opponents next season was 43-20-1 in 2013
Of the Bears' eight upcoming road opponents, four of them won at least six games at home in 2013 -- Patriots (8), Panthers (7), 49ers (6), New York Jets (6). Three of the remaining four are divisional opponents, which are never easy. Oddly enough, the combined away record of the teams coming to Soldier Field in 2014 this season was the exact opposite -- 20-43-1.
Remember how bad the Bears' rushing defense was this season? Of course you do...
Next season, the Bears will play half of their games against teams who ranked in the top 10 for rushing yards. The Panthers, at 11th, would make for a ninth.
After the Bears gave up a franchise-worst 2,583 yards rushing (5.3 yards per carry, good for dead last in the league) this season, the schedule doesn't get any more forgiving next season -- the huge stipulation being that rosters can go under quite a bit of overhaul between January and September.
Regardless, we better hope the Bears tighten up a few of those gaping holes, otherwise another .500 finish isn't out of the question.
... I really want to see a juggernaut that donimates the best the league has to offer and flat out annihilates sub par competition....Kind of like the 85 Bears...sad I have to go back that far to find a Bears team that was a significantly dominant force in the NFL...
