CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Now armed with the official 2023–2024 Chicago Bears schedule, the members of WBBM's sports team have shared their (mostly) quick predictions on what the Bears' final record will be.
Chicago will kick its season off on Sept. 10, 2023, when they host against the sans-Aaron-Rodgers Packers. Although the Bears are also slotted in for four primetime games, only one will be at home: Nov. 9, 2023, against the Carolina Panthers.
The thoughts shared from WBBM's Dave Kerner, Judson Richards, Josh Liss and Rick Gregg range from skeptical to "irrationally excited:
Dave Kerner: 9-8
I started looking at the Bears schedule and thought I won't see a lot of wins — but I decided on 9-8.
It's predicated on two things: that Justin Fields will throw the ball better than last season, and that the defense will rush the passer better than last season. I'm expecting both.
Judson Richards 7-10
The Bears are moving closer to the vision that General Manager Ryan Poles has for this franchise. With the addition of wide receiver DJ Moore, offensive linemen Nate Davis and Darnell Wright, the Bears hope to bolster their passing attack. Justin Fields is in his second year under Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy with plenty to prove.
The Bears are an improved bunch but still young, and lacking playmakers at pass rush. I see Matt Eberflus and his squad adding four more wins from a year ago. In all, a 7-10 record.
Josh Liss 9-8
With Justin Fields and a cast of reinforcements on both sides of the football, the Bears are trending in the right direction. But coming off a 3-14 season, it is tough to imagine them ripping off 10 victories and making the playoffs. So, let's settle for a six-game improvement this season and a record of 9-8.
Rick Gregg 9-8
I admit it: I'm irrationally excited about what this Bears offense might be able to do.
I don't know how defenses will control both Justin Fields' legs and his arm, now that he has DJ Moore and a healthy Darnell Mooney to throw to — along with Cole Kmet, Chase Claypool, and perhaps rookie speedster Tyler Scott. Putting guard Nate Davis and first-round pick Darnell Wright on the offensive line in front of Fields should give him more time, too.
Of course, the defense is probably going to allow a bunch of points, too. It was last in the NFL last season, and Poles and Head Coach Matt Eberflus can't fix everything in one winter. Adding free agent linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards, as well as spending seven of 10 draft picks on the defensive side certainly helps, but the hill to climb to competitiveness is steep.
That said, expected win-loss numbers suggest the Bears should have won five games in the 2022-2023 season — not just three — so perhaps they're a bit further along that climb than it appears. Then there's a weak-on-paper schedule. The Bears play the entire NFC South - four teams that finished under .500 last season. They face Arizona, Washington, Cleveland and Denver, all of which were last place teams. Aaron Rodgers is gone from Green Bay, which puts those games back in play for the first time in what seems like forever.
The various online sportsbooks set the Bears over-under at 7.5 wins. Give me the over — and maybe a return to the first weekend of the playoffs, too.
Listen to our new podcast Courier Pigeon
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
