Chicago Bears: 10 Reasons Why They Made the 2011 NFL Playoffs

All the remaining teams competing in the conference championship were long expected to make it to the Playoffs this year, with one notable exception: The Chicago Bears. 

Placing low on most team ranking lists at the beginning of the regular season, the Bears defied the odds by winning the NFC North and now making it to the NFC championship round. 

Here are the top 10 factors that contributed to the Bear’s successful year.

Mike Martz's Offensive Scheme

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Offensive coordinator Mike Martz of the Chicago Bears reacts in the second half against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan

The hiring of Mike Martz as offensive coordinator seemed a risky move, and many predicted an ongoing clash between him and quarterback Jay Cutler. 

However, after a rough start, the combination of Mike Martz’s focus on the passing game and Jay Cutler’s abilities to throw hard accurate passes has really paid off for the Bears this season.  Especially after the bye week, when the scheme was tweaked to offer Cutler better protection and place more emphasis on the run, the offense was finally performing like that of a championship team.

Dramatic O-Line Improvement

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 12: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears drops back to pass as J'Marcus Webb #73 moves to block against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field on December 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Patriots defeated the Bears 36-7. (Photo

The Bears’ offensive line’s performance in the beginning of the season was almost comically terrible.  During what could arguably be described as the worst NFL game of the whole season, the O-line allowed Cutler to be sacked a record nine times in the first half of the Giants-Bears match up back in October. 

Cutler was sacked an unacceptable 56 times this season.  

However, the Bears recognized these severe limitations early on in the season and made moves to fix the O-line’s problems during the bye week. 

The offensive line was rearranged, players were switched out or repositioned, and trainings during the bye focused on improving the O-line’s performance.  This resulted in perceptibly better protection in the second half of the season with significantly less sacks allowed. 

Jay Cutler

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears throws the ball in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonat

Jay Cutler’s performance has also dramatically improved as the 2010 season drew to a close.  Cutler has proved himself to be a tough, resilient player—taking 56 sacks this season has amazingly resulted in only one serious injury—a concussion in Week 4. 

And once he was finally afforded better protection, Cutler also proved that he could throw accurate balls and make good decisions in the pocket. 

Gone was the Cutler of 2009 and the first half of 2010, who regularly threw interceptions or was sacked to the ground.  Cutler managed to throw only 16 interceptions this year, as opposed to the 26 he threw in 2009. 

By the second half of the season, Cutler had cut down dramatically on the mistakes and began looking like a top quarterback worthy of the NFC title.

Utilizing Matt Forte Effectively

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Running back Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears attempts to jump into the endzone but is stopped short in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2

Another important change implemented in the second half of the season was giving Matt Forte an expanded role.  Forte is a rising star and utilizing him more had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the Bears’ game and on Forte’s performance.  

Forte increased his average rushing yards per game from 50.29 before the bye week to 79.6 afterward.  In total, Forte ran for more than 1,000 yards and his running play helped the Bears convert on third downs, improve Red Zone performance and rest the defense. 

Forte has proved himself a top running back in the League and has a promising career ahead of him.

Devin Hester

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears breaks for a first down run of 39 yards after a catch pursued by Stewart Bradley #55 and Dimitri Patterson #23 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illino

Hester is arguably the best punt returner in the NFL, and broke the record for the most kicks returned for a touchdown when he scored his 14th against the Vikings this season. 

He is a potent special teams threat and has been commended for his speed and elusiveness throughout the League.  The great field position gained by his runs has been an invaluable asset to an offense that often struggled in the beginning of the season. 

Hester has emerged as one of the teams biggest stars.

Julius Peppers

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 28: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles fumbles the ball as he is sacked by Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 28, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Julius Peppers was the best acquisition the Bears could have made in the off-season, and the great job he has done at DE justifies the $40 million the Bears paid him to be there. 

Not only has he been an intimidating threat to opposing quarterbacks, but his monstrous presence has picked up the performance of his fellow defensive players. 

Already having a reputation for a solid defense, Chicago’s status as a defensive powerhouse has been further cemented thanks to Peppers’ performance this season.

Brian Urlacher

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 26: Brian Urlacher #54 of the Chicago Bears awaits the start of play against the New York Jets at Soldier Field on December 26, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Jets 38-34. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

An older player who spent most of the 2009 season injured, Urlacher was expected to be on the decline when he returned this season.  However, he quickly proved his doubters wrong.

Urlacher is still on his game after all these years, leading the team in tackles and earning himself another trip to the Pro-Bowl along with Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs. 

Urlacher appears to have several good years left in him and was a dominating force on the Bears’ defensive line this year.

No Expectations=Less Pressure

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears dives into the endzone to score on a six-yard run against Aaron Curry #59 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter of the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on J

High expectations of a team’s success can have negative consequences for teams in the spotlight.  Either caving under the pressure or viewing themselves as inevitable winners, athlete’s performances can suffer.  This could have been one of the many issues that brought down the Dallas Cowboys this season.

Whereas the Packers, Jets and Steelers have all faced high expectations, few commentators or fans expected the Bears to make it into the off-season.  Even when they were leading the NFC North early on in the season, the Bears have constantly been seen as underdogs in many of their games. 

They are even expected to lose against the Packers this week, even though the Packers barely made it into the playoffs.  Despite this underdog status, the Bears have beat expectations and been true road warriors, performing better away than at home this year. 

It is dangerous to underestimate teams, as the Seahawks also proved during the Wild card round, and many teams have underestimated the Bears at their peril.

Vikings/Packers Bad Luck

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings is sacked by the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium on December 20, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Brett Favre should have retired last year, and performed poorly this season while Sidney Rice was out. 

After a good playoff run last year, this year the Vikings did not even have a chance. 

Meanwhile, the Packers were plagued by injuries, losing Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley early on in the season.  Though they made the playoffs, they failed to secure a spot until the last game of the season, when they barely beat the Bears 10-3.  

The struggles of their NFC North rivals created a perfect opportunity for the Bears, who won the division handily and didn't lose a divisional game until the last game of the season. 

Good Luck for Da Bears

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears celebrates his six-yard touchdown run with Devin Hester #23 against the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter of the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16

During the first game of the season, luck smiled down on the Bears when a bad call by the ref nullified what would have been Calvin Johnson’s game-winning touchdown. 

When starting quarterback Jay Cutler was sidelined for one game with a head injury, it was, mercifully, against the Panthers. 

Chicago’s key play makers on both sides of the ball have remained healthy and active all season.  These strokes of fortune have certainly helped the Bears reach the Playoffs and have continued into the off-season. 

The Bears’ first playoff game was against the Seahawks, not the former Super Bowl champion Saints, as expected.  Perhaps this luck will help propel the Bears past the Packers this weekend and into the Super Bowl.