The Chicago Bears Are Back, Or Are They?

The 2008 Chicago Bears fell short of the playoffs, leaving fans hungry for more. How far will the Bears get this year?

There are several reasons to be optimistic. The main reason, of course, is the addition of quarterback Jay Cutler, an all-pro caliber player who represents a large improvement over Kyle Orton--who was traded to Denver for Cutler--and Rex Grossman, who was Orton's predecessor.

There is some concern about the Bears wide receiving corps, but Earl Bennett was one of Cutler's favorite targets when the two played at Vanderbilt, thus giving some reason for optimism. Also, Devin Hester should continue to blossom into a more dependable wideout, now that this is his third season at that position.

Running back Matt Forte should also continue to develop, and last year's first-round draft pick, Chris Williams, may finally see meaningful playing time. And don't forget tight end Greg Olsen, who could provide Cutler with another target. Finally, the signing of veteran tackle Orlando Pace could help stabilize the offensive line.

There haven't been as many changes on defense, but that's OK, since the Bears' 'D' has the potential to be in the top half of the league. Still, a few late-game meltdowns last year are cause for concern.

All this adds up to another interesting season for the Bears. Last season's team underachieved, but they still stayed in the playoff hunt until the very end of the regular season. The addition of Cutler and the growth of some of the younger players may translate into another win or two, which should be enough to get the Bears into the playoffs in a wide-open NFC North.