Chicago Bears: Can they reach the NFC Championship next season?
The Chicago Bears were 3-13 during the 2016 regular season but can they reach the NFC Championship game next season?
On Sunday, the Chicago Bears will be sitting at home as they watch the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons play each other for the right to advance to the Super Bowl.
The last time the Bears made the playoffs was the 2010 season. The Bears’ playoff run in 2010 ended when they lost to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game.
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The Bears have never quite been the same since that season. In fact, each season since 2010 has been an increase in disappointment until the team finally hit rock bottom in 2016. The Bears finished the season with a record of 3-13. The Bears were the third-worst team in the NFL this past season.
But, is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Could the Chicago Bears be contenders to play in the NFC Championship game next season?
There are a couple areas to examine to determine the answer to that question. The determining factors are defense and quarterback play.
The Bears had the eighth best defensive unit in the NFC last season. By comparison, the Packers were 11th in the NFC in total defense and the Falcons were 13th. From a defensive standpoint, the Bears certainly do have the talent to make the NFC Championship Game next season. Of course, that is also factoring in expected improvements made to the unit over the course of the off-season.
The drop-off for the Bears is at the quarterback position. Elite quarterbacks can lead a team to the NFC Championship game regardless of the talent around them (that is what Aaron Rodgers is currently doing). Similarly, Matt Ryan has an elite season for the Falcons. The Falcons had the third-best passing offense in the NFC this season while the Packers were fourth. The Bears were not far behind as they were eighth in the NFC in terms of passing offense. The difference is that Ryan and Rodgers combined this season had 15 interceptions and the Bears’ quarterbacks had a total of 19 interceptions.
As currently constructed, the Bears’ question mark at the quarterback position is so significant that there is no way to project them into the NFC Championship Game next season. That could change depending on how the Bears address the position in the off-season, though.
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For now, however, it’s unlikely that the Chicago Bears will be playing in the NFC Championship game next season.