Sports Illustrated predicts Bears will make the playoffs in 2024. Read their explanation why originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
On Thursday, Sports Illustrated released a list of teams they believe will make the playoffs this season after missing the postseason last year, and the Bears made the cut. It’s no surprise that the reason for the No. 1 pick is new quarterback Caleb Williams.
“His first experiences with the organization have been overwhelmingly positive, the Bears have improved the offense and Shane Waldron is a very capable offensive designer,” Connor Orr wrote.
In addition to Williams, the Bears have added a number of playmakers, including wide receiver Keenan Allen, running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett. Of course, the Bears will return nearly every starter on their defense, which has developed into one of the league’s best units over the course of the 2023 season.
The Bears also have the advantage of playing a last-place schedule, meaning they will play the other last-place players in the conference. Several of those teams haven’t made the same level of personnel improvements as the Bears.
“There are a lot of winnable games and what I like to call ‘breaks’ throughout Chicago’s schedule, although I know just mentioning an NFL game as easy would make a coach’s blood boil,” Orr wrote . “While the end of Williams’ first season will be brutal – with dates against Detroit (twice!), San Francisco and Green Bay – it will be the end of Williams’ first season. In theory, he will be better than he was in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.”
Of course, if the Bears make the playoffs this year, that means one of the NFC teams that qualified for the postseason last year will be sidelined this winter. Orr believes the Lions and Packers will still make the tournament, meaning the Bears would be the third NFC North team in the playoffs. He sees the Cowboys as the odd team.
“Dallas is no longer a clear winner over the Giants,” Orr wrote. “The team’s list of opponents includes the Browns, 49ers, Lions, Ravens, Bengals and Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys can be considered an underdog in almost every one of them. They have a lame-duck coach, a taxed staff on shaky ground and a shaky foundation on which to support a great quarterback, wide receiver and pass rusher. That worries me.”
The Bears finished last year with a 7-10 record. The Packers made the postseason with a 9-8 record, so if that threshold is the same in 2024, the Bears will need to make a two-game improvement to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
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