Chicago Bears: Bold predictions for 2018 (Part 1)

5. The Bears will make the playoffs

It’s not lost on me that we play this game every year with the Chicago Bears: we try to tell ourselves that, if everyone plays the way they should, this team could win the NFC North or, at the very least, snag a wild-card spot.

And for the last seven seasons, exactly the opposite has happened.

So, maybe this prediction won’t seem as bold as it does tired and likely wishful thinking. And maybe it is those things.

Still, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this time around could be quite different.

For those who still cling to “the McCaskeys still run the Bears, so they’ll stay bad” lines of thought, look at the reality of this situation.

This is Ryan Pace’s team. They yielded control of football operations to him, and he has finally reshaped this team almost fully in his image.

I mean, they’re even renovating the facilities at Halas Hall. This guy is modernizing the entire operation.

The hopeful franchise quarterback is in place with a supporting cast and coaching staff solely there to help him grow.

The borderline (or perhaps squarely) top-10 defense from a year ago will both gain some continuity at key spots and get younger with the upcoming draft.

And though the Minnesota Vikings look to be even better than last season with Kirk Cousins at the helm, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions remain vulnerable.

I admit that having Aaron Rodgers throwing to Jimmy Graham is a bit concerning, but neither of them plays defense. In fact, aside from Clay Matthews and Mike Daniels, I’m actually not sure who does anymore.

Next: Grading the Bears' main moves in free agency

With that in mind, this team should at the least finish 8-8. On paper and by projection, this roster is certainly capable of doing better than that, but I’m not going to push it.

Let’s call it 9-7 and them grabbing the second wild-card spot. And though they’re not quite ready to compete for a title yet, their window is opening.

If Pace’s vision for his draft picks, both past and future, comes to fruition, who knows? Maybe they’ll jump right through it.