After just 16 wins over the last three years, Chicago Bears fans are ready for a winning season, and Nate Davis of USA Today believes that the 2024 season will deliver. Every year, Nate meticulously predicts the winners and losers of every regular season game, then uses that information to project the playoff seeding, which teams advance, and who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.
Last year, Nate nailed his prediction for the Bears at 7-10. Bears fans will hope he also gets his 2024 predictions right because he puts the Bears at a respectable 9-8, their first winning record since 2018. This proves just good enough to sneak into the playoffs as the 7th seed. In fact, in Nate's projections, the NFC North is the only division to send three teams to the playoffs: the Packers earn the 2nd seed and the NFC North crown with 13 wins, and the Lions nab the 5th seed with 11 wins.
NFL record projections are here!
— USA TODAY NFL (@usatodaynfl) July 22, 2024
What do you think about your team's outlook for 2024?https://t.co/han6zDtNp1 pic.twitter.com/EtfepzE7t0
Here's what Nate says about Chicago's chances in 2024:
"The narrative that no No. 1 overall pick has entered a more favorable situation in the common draft era (since 1967) than QB Caleb Williams? We’re buying it. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is surrounded by weapons on offense and supported by a defense that found its footing following last year’s midseason trade for DE Montez Sweat. Williams had no role for a club that won four of its final six games in 2023, but he’s got a great chance to sustain that momentum given Chicago plays the league’s easiest schedule (aside from NFC South teams)."
High praise to go along with high expectations for Caleb Williams and the Bears. That seems to be what everyone thinks of this team right now.
As excited Bears fans would be for Chicago to return to the playoffs, they would sadly be sent into the offseason with a soul-crushing playoff loss to... the Green Bay Packers. Even in this scenario, with the Bears winning football games and Williams living up to the hype, it would likely take the fanbase several weeks to get over this loss, especially since Nate has the Packers getting to the Super Bowl (they don't win it, if that's any consolation in this hypothetical future).
Share your 2024 Chicago Bears season predictions in the comments below.
