5 Reasons Chicago Bears Will Be Playoff Bound in 2011

When a team makes it to the NFC Championship Game like the Chicago Bears did last season, it should be a foregone conclusion that they will return to the playoffs the next season.  But this is the NFL we're talking about, and the only foregone conclusions anymore are James Harrison getting fined for an illegal hit and a player on the Cincinnati Bengals getting arrested.

There are some tough obstacles in front of the Bears in 2011.  They play in the same division as the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, two of their first three games are against the past two Super Bowl winners (New Orleans Saints and Packers) and the NFC is quickly becoming a powerhouse conference with teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants on the steady rise towards becoming perennial Super Bowl contenders.

Another obstacle for the Bears is themselves. They were the 30th ranked offense in the NFL in 2010 and will need every aspect of their offense to be better.  The offensive line is going to have to be better at not getting quarterback Jay Cutler beat up, the wide receivers will need to show up in big games and not go gentle into the good night and the coaching staff is going to have to be quicker to make a switch in philosophy if the games are not going according to plan to start the season.

Despite all of that, I still feel that the Bears will be one of the teams to survive the inevitable turnover of playoff teams in the NFL this season.  And while they may not repeat as NFC North champions, here are the five reasons they will still be playoff bound in 2011...

The Offensive Line Will Be Much Improved

The offensive line is far and away the greatest area of concern for the Bears.  They were a makeshift unit last season that gave up over 50 sacks, got their quarterback Jay Cutler concussed and was one of the main reasons the offense finished 30th overall in the NFL.  It was the one position that absolutely had to be upgraded in the offseason, and that's what they Bears did.

Enter first-round pick Gabe Carimi. The massive rookie (6' 7", 315 lbs) was a four-year starter for the Wisconsin Badgers, won the 2010 Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman, was a unanimous selection as a 2010 Consensus All-American and was the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Accolades aside, what Gabe Carimi brings to the Bears is a presence and nastiness that they have been missing.  He has been tabbed by the coaching staff as the right tackle of the future and has allowed offensive line coach Mike Tice the freedom to move other players around on the line to better fit their talents. 

Outside of Carimi, this is the second year in Mike Martz's offense, which means the rest of the O-line should be more comfortable with the plays and what is expected of them.  They will be able to make quicker reads on the defense, and with Olin Kreutz gone, they will be forced to learn them on their own and not have someone tell them what to do.

The line is bigger, faster and more athletic than last year. They really have no where to go but up, and I think Bears fans will be surprised at just how good the line will be this year.

Matt Forte and Marion Barber

Matt Forte accomplished something in 2010 only one other Chicago Bears running back had ever achieved: He rushed for over 1,000 yards and had over 500 yards receiving.  That other running back? Walter Payton.  I heard he had a pretty good career...

Last offseason, Jerry Angelo signed Minnesota Vikings running back Chester Taylor to a lucrative free-agent contract to push Forte (he was coming off a bad sophomore season) and, at the very least, be a competent complimentary back.  Neither happened and Forte once again shouldered the load from the running back position.

This year Angelo brought in Marion Barber from the Dallas Cowboys and, barring injury, this is the move that will pay the most dividends in 2011.  Barber is a true compliment to Forte on the field. He is a bruising back that loves contact and relishes the chance to blow up a linebacker that gets near his quarterback.

Having Marion Barber will allow Matt Forte to get more rest during the season, keeping him fresh and healthy for the playoff push at the end of the season.  He will give Mike Martz more options in play-calling and personal packages and will make the offense better by keeping drives alive by helping out on blocks.

I expect Forte to improve on his numbers from last year and Barber to play like "Marion the Barbarian" from a couple years ago in Big D. When half of your games are played on the sloppy turf known as Soldier Field, with blistering cold and inclement weather, a strong running game is a requirement. The combination of Matt Forte and Marion Barber will enable the Bears to close out games in the fourth quarter and control them in December and January.

The Schedule Favors Them Late in the Season

To win in the NFL, sometimes you need a little luck.  Last year for the Bears, that luck was a rule interpretation against the Lions and facing multiple third-string quarterbacks on their way to an 11-win season.

In 2011, the luck the Bears have received comes in the form of their schedule. I know, they open up the season against the Atlanta Falcons (No. 1 seed in the NFC last year), New Orleans Saints (Super Bowl winners from two seasons ago) and Green Bay Packers (defending Super Bowl champions).  That's about as tough a three-game set as you're going to get in the NFL, but two of the games are at Soldier Field (Atlanta and Green Bay), giving the Bears an advantage. Despite how daunting September seems, it isn't unrealistic to think that the Bears could be 2-1 after those three tough early-season tilts.

After a non-descript October and November where a trip to Philadelphia and a visit from the Chargers should prove to be the only real challenges, December brings the Bears the gifts of the Chiefs, Broncos and Seahawks, oh my!  If not for the Christmas clash in Lambeau Field against the Packers, the Bears would have a legitimate chance at running the month undefeated.

With teams like the Panthers and Raiders also on the schedule, the Bears should be able to win 10-12 games in 2011, which should be enough to secure at least a wild card berth.

Jay Cutler Has Something to Prove

There may have never been a more controversial or talented quarterback to don a Chicago Bears uniform than Jay Cutler. He may also be the most scrutinized quarterback the Windy City has seen. From the day he was acquired in the blockbuster trade with the Denver Broncos, Jay Cutler's career, footwork and facial expressions have dominated water cooler conversations and saturated sports talk shows.

Regardless of what is said about Cutler, he is a competitor and is going to do what he can to prove every one of his critics and doubters wrong this season.  This will be his second year in the Bears' offense, which means he will be able to react to what he sees instead of thinking and then reacting.  He already knows the plays and has a rapport with the wide receivers. He also showed up in the best shape of his career, despite the lockout that cut OTAs and access to the facilities at Hallas Hall. 

Jay Cuter enjoyed his first winning season as a professional in 2010 and guided the Bears to the NFC Championship Game.  Unfortunately for Cutler, a knee injury forced him out of that game and the Bears season ended at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champions. 

With Olin Kreutz no longer on the roster, Cutler will have the chance to step up into more of a leadership role with the offense.  The Bears are now his team and his comfort with the system, and a second season with Mike Martz will only improve his decision making, which will cut down on red-zone mistakes and ultimately lead the Bears back to the playoffs.

The Defense Will Dominate

In the NFL, more times than not, a great defense will beat a great offense.  The Chicago Bears defense in 2011 has a chance to be just that—great.

General Manager Jerry Angelo was busy trying to shore up the defensive side of the ball in the offseason. He drafted Stephen Paea in the second round of the draft, re-signed Anthony Adams and brought in Vernon Gholston from the New York Jets and Amobi Okoye from the Houston Texans for depth on the defensive line.  He also added safety Chris Conti via the draft and brought back linebacker Nick Roach to start alongside Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.

Led by Julius Peppers and Urlacher, the Bears front seven should be one of the strongest and toughest units in football. They will be able to put constant pressure on the quarterback and stuff their opponents' running game. The result of the pressure that Peppers and his linemates will cause is going to help the secondary by covering some of their deficiencies.

This was a playoff caliber defense last season that has gotten better in the offseason.  They improved their depth, made positional changes to better fit their personnel and are ready to return to football's promised land. 

The Chicago Bears defense will be a Super Bowl caliber defense in 2011 and will be the number one reason they not only make the playoffs but will be a force once they get in.