5 Players Who Could Snag Roster Spots
August 3, 2021, 10:06 PM CDT
The Chicago Bears are in that middle stage at this point where they are developing to become contenders. 2022 and beyond are the years of contention for us in my opinion. So there would be some under the radar players that snag the final roster spots following preseason. So, lets see who they are.
1. Tre Roberson
Roberson was a star in the CFL who was expected to contend for a roster spot last year. He was waived with a non-football injury (broken foot) in July 2020 though, but resigned this offseason. With a loaded cornerback room, Roberson could sneakily beat out Duke Shelley and Artie Burns for a spot on the team.
2. Thomas Ives
With Anthony Miller gone, the door is open for a sixth receiver. While many would immediately say Riley Ridley, I think Ives has a chance to snag that last spot. Ridley seemingly has not had the best camp, and Ives might have the chance to rise up to the 2's and maybe snag the final roster spot. He performed well in 2019 training camp and preseason, and another good performance could spell the end to Riley Ridley's Bears career.
3. Jesper Horstead
Horstead got some action in 2019 after an impressive preseason and a few injuries. He even caught a touchdown on Thanksgiving that year. Don't be surprised if Horstead is able to beat out JP Holtz for a roster spot on this team.
4. Angelo Blackson
The Bears signed Blackson in the offseason for depth defensive line following the departures of Brent Urban and Roy Robertson-Harris. While we now have other options, I think he could do well enough to convince the team to let him stay on as a depth guy.
5. Ledarius Mack
The younger Mack was signed as a 2020 UDFA, likely because of his connections to his older brother. That connection could help him get a spot, as he would have great chemistry with Khalil due to them being brothers.
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2021 Bears Season Predictions
September 11, 2021, 3:18 PM CDT
It is that time of year to give my Chicago Bears season predictions. Last year, this was only my fourth article, following the season simulation (which will come later). Last years season prediction was 11-5, and we finished 8-8. Let's see if I can do a little bit better this year.
Week 1 @ Los Angeles Rams L 24-17: With Andy Dalton starting, I honestly do not think we will win this game. The reason we will score 17 will be because Monty will carry the team on his back. Otherwise, the defense keeps it close but we lose because Dalton can't lead a final touchdown drive past the 50.
Week 2 vs Cincinnati Bengals W 34-20: Here's a good bounce back game, though I feel this is a trap. The Bengals are going to be better this year (spoiler: they were the #1 seed in the AFC in my simulation). Now this game is at home and Dalton can get some revenge. So I think we will be able to coast to a victory.
Week 3 @ Cleveland Browns L 31-13: Going on the road to Cleveland is almost a surefire loss. And it will be. Especially with this team. Hopefully Eddie Goldman can be back for this game though. Anyways, the Browns soon to be explosive offense is going to tear us up, as we will get destroyed 31-13.
Week 4 vs Detroit Lions W 30-10: Another good bounce back opportunity is against the Lions. I honestly think the Lions will go 0-17. So we will obviously sweep the season series starting with the home game.
Week 5 @ Las Vegas Raiders W 24-19: We will claim yet another win in week 5. I've seen many people say we will lose this game but I think we will win. The Raiders will finish either third or last in the AFC West, the latter being more likely. So I think the Bears, on the back of David Montgomery, win this one.
Week 6 vs Green Bay Packers W 23-22: There is only one reason why we will win this game. We are wearing the throwbacks. Those seem to give new energy to us, so I think we will be able to upset the Packers at home on their quest for a last dance.
Week 7 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 41-10: This is where the win streak falls apart. This will be Dalton's last start, as we get smashed so bad that Fields comes in at halftime. This is despite the win last year. We will only win if Foles starts, just saying.
Week 8 vs San Francisco 49ers W 26-20: I will be at this game. Justin Fields will hopefully be making his first career start here too if Dalton gets slaughtered in Tampa. Hey, it could be Fields v Lance. But if Justin starts for us I think we win. Monty will get a good amount of carries to help ease Fields into things.
Week 9 @ Pittsburgh Steelers W 17-13: The Steelers will probably have a good defense this year, so I think this will be a lower scoring Monday Night clash. Fields will need to rely more on the air attack, as Monty could be neutralized a lot by TJ Watt. However, I think we will still come out on top.
Week 10 Bye
Week 11 vs Baltimore Ravens L 24-20: With the Ravens having lost their top 3 running backs, we will have a better chance at winning this one. However, I think Lamar Jackson will do just enough to squeeze past our defense on a late touchdown drive.
Week 12 @ Detroit Lions W 33-15: I mostly explained this in the earlier Lions prediction, but again, I think they will go 0-17, so we will beat them on Thanksgiving in front of all of America.
Week 13 vs Arizona Cardinals L 24-17: The Cardinals will bring us back down to Earth, as they escape with a close victory. A two minute drill will score a touchdown with 13 seconds left, and we will be left with too little time to make a comeback.
Week 14 @ Green Bay Packers L 31-28: On the road, Sunday Night Football, cold Green Bay. All the factors for a close loss. It will come on a last second field goal, but at least we got the one win in the regular season.
Week 15 vs Minnesota Vikings W 22-20: It's Kirk Cousins on Monday Night, plus we are wearing the throwbacks. So this should be a perfect combination for a nail-biting victory. Down at the last second, Ice Cairo will hit a 30 yard field goal to win the game as the clock expires.
Week 16 @ Seattle Seahawks L 32-20: If this game was at home, I could see a closer game, but in Seattle with all the rain and cold I think they will prevail by two scores. Can't keep them all close with Fields.
Week 17 vs New York Giants W 34-17: I feel like we play the Giants at Soldier Field every year now. Same with the Rams in LA. But we will get a three score victory with the Soldier Field crowd going nuts as we clinch a Wild Card spot.
Week 18 @ Minnesota Vikings L 27-24: If we don't clinch the week before, this could be the biggest game of the NFC North and Wild Card race. However, I see the Vikes taking a very close game here, answering the earlier matchup with a nail-biting last second field goal of their own.
Final Record: 9-8
With the new playoff expansion and 17 game season, we should be a 5 or 6 seed in the playoffs. Even if we wind up losing to the Vikings in week 18. Heck, even 8-9 could get us in. We will see, as this is set to be a very interesting year.
2021 NFL Season Simulation
September 11, 2021, 3:54 PM CDT
I did one of these last year and I'm bringing it back. Just like last year, I will only give the Bears regular season results, but will do all of the playoff results. Last year, the Colts and Falcons met in the Super Bowl, and the Falcons (unrealistically) came out on top. The Bears made it all the way to the NFC Championship. Can we take the next step?
Week 1 @ Los Angeles Rams: L
Week 2 vs Cincinnati Bengals: W
Week 3 @ Cleveland Browns: W
Week 4 vs Detroit Lions: W
Week 5 @ Las Vegas Raiders: W
Week 6 vs Green Bay Packers: L
Week 7 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: W
Week 8 vs San Francisco 49ers: W
Week 9 @ Pittsburgh Steelers: W
Week 10 Bye
Week 11 vs Baltimore Ravens: W
Week 12@ Detroit Lions: W
Week 13 vs Arizona Cardinals: L
Week 14 @ Green Bay Packers: L
Week 15 vs Minnesota Vikings: W
Week 16 @ Seattle Seahawks: W
Week 17 vs New York Giants: W
Week 18 @ Minnesota Vikings: L
Despite going 12-5, the Eagles somehow go 13-3-1 to win the NFC. We got the second seed in the conference. Here are the final standings.
Final Standings:
AFC North
Cincinnati Bengals 12-5 (#1 AFC)
Pittsburgh Steelers 11-6 (#5 AFC)
Cleveland Browns 7-10 (#13 AFC)
Baltimore Ravens 6-11 (#14 AFC)
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts 11-6 (#2 AFC)
Houston Texans 8-9 (#7 AFC)
Jacksonville Jaguars 8-9 (#9 AFC)
Tennessee Titans 7-10 (#12 AFC)
AFC East
New England Patriots 10-7 (#4 AFC)
New York Jets 8-9 (#8 AFC)
Miami Dolphins 6-11 (#15 AFC)
Buffalo Bills 5-12 (#16 AFC)
AFC West
Denver Broncos 10-7 (#3 AFC)
Los Angeles Chargers 8-9 (#6 AFC)
Kansas City Chiefs 7-9-1 (#10 AFC)
Las Vegas Raiders 7-10 (#11 AFC)
NFC North
Chicago Bears 12-5 (#2 NFC)
Green Bay Packers 9-8 (#5 NFC)
Minnesota Vikings 9-8 (#7 NFC)
Detroit Lions 7-10 (#13 NFC)
NFC South
New Orleans Saints 10-7 (#3 NFC)
Carolina Panthers 9-8 (#6 NFC)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-10 (#14 NFC)
Atlanta Falcons 5-12 (#16 NFC)
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles 13-3-1 (#1 NFC)
Dallas Cowboys 9-8 (#8 NFC)
Washington Football Team 9-8 (#9 NFC)
New York Giants 8-9 (#12 NFC)
NFC West
Seattle Seahawks 10-7 (#4 NFC)
Los Angeles Rams 9-8 (#10 NFC)
Arizona Cardinals 8-9 (#11 NFC)
San Francisco 49ers 6-11 (#15 NFC)
As you can see these results are EXTREMELY accurate as teams 5-10 in the NFC will all go 9-8 and a ton of tiebreakers will take place. Also, both Super Bowl teams from 2020 prove those were Mickey Mouse runs and miss the playoffs. Speaking of playoffs, lets get into the sim.
Wild Card Weekend
AFC:
5 PIT vs (W) NE 4
6 LAC vs (W) DEN 3
7 HOU (W) vs IND 2
The biggest shock of this round is the Texans somehow continuing their miracle run by moving to the divisional round, when everyone said they would go 0-17 before the season.
NFC:
5 GB (W) vs SEA 4
6 CAR (W) vs NO 3
7 MIN vs (W) CHI 2
I guess the upsets weren't really big surprises. But, the Bears and Packers play in the divisional. The Packers swept the Bears despite finishing 3 wins behind them. Can they win a 3rd?
Divisional Round
AFC:
7 HOU vs (W) CIN 1
4 NE (W) vs DEN 3
The Texans storybook run comes to an end as the Bengals, who haven't won a playoff game this millennium, take them down to advance. Also, Mac Jones is leading New England on a run.
NFC:
6 CAR (W) vs PHI 1
5 GB vs (W) CHI 2
The Panthers are able to upset the Eagles to move on to the NFC Championship game against the Bears, who put their regular season demons behind them to beat their archrival Green Bay Packers.
Conference Championships
AFC:
4 NE (W) vs CIN 1
Mac Jones may be leading a dynasty here, as the Patriots get back to the Super Bowl just two years removed from the Tom Brady era.
NFC:
6 CAR (W) vs CHI 2
Our run finally ends as the Panthers smash our hopes and dreams in the NFC Championship game.
Super Bowl Sunday
4 New England Patriots vs (W) Carolina Panthers 6
The Panthers, under the command of Sam Darnold, get revenge for 2002 by beating the New England Patriots as the underdogs. Just like last year, don't take this seriously. They had the Falcons winning the Super Bowl last year. But who knows. Maybe Carolina will shock the world.
