Chicago Bears: Mediocrity Reins Supreme in This NFL

In his seven year reign, Lovie Smith has made it a point to emphasize the importance of the "four quarters" of an NFL season. With Sunday's 23-6 win over the Panthers, the Bears have moved into the second quarter of the season, an NFC North leading 4-1.

So with a little over a quarter of the season completed, where does this 2010 Bears team fit into the hierarchy of the NFL?

Lets begin with the state of this season's NFL. When evaluating this year's crop of teams one thing becomes blatantly clear: There are no dominate teams. Last year's conference champions, the Saints and Colts sit a pedestrian 3-2, while preseason favorites such as the Vikings, Cowboys, and 49ers sit below .500. Besides that, three current division leaders - the Cardinals, Redskins, and Texans - all have negative point differentials. Even division leaders and so called “elite” teams, like the Patriots, Ravens, and Jets, have shown major flaws. The fact is, while Bears have their flaws, so does the rest of the NFL.

Through four weeks of football, the Bears have been essentially the team everyone believed they would be. They are a past first, think second offense. Besides Sunday’s mirage against the horrid Carolina Panthers, the Bears have lived and died with the right arm of Jay Cutler, and his life will depend on the ability for the Bears to protect him. In an offensive scheme known for its quarterbacks taking a beating, Cutler has already been forced to miss a game following a concussion inducing beating.

The defense is an excruciatingly typical Lovie Smith, bend but don’t break, defense. They rely on turnovers and opportunistic plays. Julius Peppers has been worth every penny, while Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs have played at a pro-bowl caliber. But still, the Bears have good, not great. They have yet to face an elite offense and have shown flashes of difficulties that have plagued them the past four seasons.

With all that said, this imperfect Bears team is currently tied for the best record in the league.

So just how good is this team? While, it is fair to say this team is not a team, that would be believed capable of leading the NFL in victories, their 4-1 record is deserved. The Bears have survived a lackluster opening day performance, a horrid start in Dallas, an injury to Jay Cutler, and a Todd Collins appearance, all to lead the league in wins. There is obvious work that needs to be improved. Jay Cutler needs to return and be the franchise quarterback he had been through the first three weeks. Mike Martz, Mike Tice, and Lovie Smith, and/or anybody with a brain at Halas Hall needs to scheme/sign/and or trade for a competent offensive line, and the secondary still has its struggles. Sound a little much, for a team leading the league in wins? Welcome to NFL football 2010.