2011 NFL Predictions: 10 Keys to a Successful Season for the Chicago Bears

After a 2010 in which the Chicago Bears made it to the NFC Championship game, they are looking to get back to this game and hopefully win it this year.

With an aging defense, this current core of Bears players has a limited window if they want to make a run at a championship.

Last season the Bears did plenty of things right to make it to the NFC Championship. On the other hand, they also did many things wrong that cut their season short from a Super Bowl Championship.

For the Bears to win the NFC North this season and return back to the playoffs they need to play solid football in all aspects of the game.

Here is a preview of 10 things that the Bears must do right if they want to have a successful season:

10. Avoid Injuries

One of the main reasons why the Bears were so successful in 2010, was simply because they had minimal injuries. Not a single major player on the Bears missed significant time last season and this lead to them having a great season.

Last season the Green Bay Packers almost did not make the playoffs last season due to mass injuries, but once they got healthy, the league saw how good of a team they were.

The Bears do not have the star power to push through a season after significant injuries. Every starter on offense is key. Every starter on defense is key. Every starter on special teams is key.

The Bears cannot afford any injuries if they want to have a truly great year.

9. Marion Barber Come Up Big

This offseason, the Bears went out and got a backup running back that can get them the tough yards that they need for first downs. Marion Barber is an incredibly hard runner and one that will help the Bears tremendously this season.

Last season the Bears ranked 27th in the NFL in 3rd down conversions and 31st in 4th down conversions. Their dismal rankings can be attributed in large part to their inability to convert in short yardage situations.

With the addition of Barber, the Bears will hopefully have solved this problem. Barber is a touchdown vulture and a guy that will lengthen many drives for the Bears this season.

8. Robbie Gould Extend Range

While he has been one of the most consistent and reliable kickers in the NFL for the past few seasons, it is no secret that Robbie Gould does not have the strongest leg in the league.

Last season Robbie Gould only attempted seven field goals of over 50 yards or more and converted only four of them.

By having a kicker that cannot even attempt many long field goals, the Bears have to gain extra yards if they want to put points on the board.

This preseason the Bears have been challenging Gould to take 50 yard field goals and it looks as if Gould has been working on his kicking power.

Gould has hit many of these field goals and hit them with confidence. If the Bears can kick longer field goals this season, look for their offense to put a lot more points on the board.

7. Win One from the Packers

In a 16 game season, every game matters. The difference between the Bears making or missing the playoffs this season may come down to whether or not they can beat the Green Bay Packers.

Last season the Bears and Packers split their regular season series, but the Packers beat the Bears in the NFC Championship. One of the reasons that both of these teams made the playoffs was because they split the series between each other.

The divisional race will almost certainly come down to the wire and the Bears and Packers both know it. The best shot for the Bears to take one from the Packers is September 25th when they play them at home.

6. Use Home Field Advantage

One of the dumbest, stupidest, most idiotic things that the Bears have going for them is that they have a terrible field.

All preseason and for the past few seasons the playing surface at Soldier Field has been a great topic of controversey. The slippery grass surface has caused many complaints from opposing teams in the past.

While the Bears will most certainly clip as well, by being the home team they will be able to get used to the playing surface. The Bears players will know the soft spots, slippery spots, and simply what type of moves are most effective on the playing surface.

5. Quality Coaching

It would be an understatement to say that Lovie Smith has been on the hot seat over the past few seasons.

A trip to the NFC Championship has bought Smith sometime, but he must perform this season if he would like to stay under contract with the Bears.

One of the biggest weaknesses of Smith is his challenging. Smith often challenges the wrong plays and loses timeouts.

When you have a head coach that is making poor decisions with challenges, he is simply a liability. Smith needs to step his game up and work with his coaches that are up in the booth watching the game.

Another coach that needs to be patient is Mike Martz. Martz is a brilliant offensive mind, but sometimes relies to heavy on the pass and does not make good adaptions on the fly. He needs to take what the defense is giving him and adjust accordingly.

If Martz stays calm and Smith makes good decisions with challenges, the Bears will be in good shape from their coaching staff.

4. Establish the Running Game

Chicago Bears football is all about running and it needs to be if the Bears want to be a contender this season.

Jay Cutler is a great quarterback, but when the Bears ask him to do too much, their offense is not as effective. The Bears need to use the running game and more specifically use their star running back, Matt Forte.

Forte is a premier back and can do a lot on the football field. Last season Forte averaged a career high 4.5 yards per carry, which is shouting at Mike Martz, "give me the ball!"

When you have a strong running game, the passing game will open because of it. A successful Bears offense starts with a running game and nothing else.

3. Limit Turnovers

We all know the good Jay Cutler, and we all know the bad Jay Cutler. The bad Jay Cutler is the 2009 Cutler that threw 26 interceptions.

Turnovers flat out kill football teams. The best teams in the NFL are always the ones that keep good care of the ball and that is no coincidence. The Bears need to be one of these teams and not turn the ball over.

The turnover battle begins with Jay Cutler and he must make good decisions this season if he wants to limit the turnovers. Cutler often tries to make the highlight level plays and instead throws interceptions.

No fumbles, no interceptions, no problems.

2. Heavy Push from Defensive Line

The hands down strength of the Chicago Bears will be their defensive line. The Bears have been a defensive led team for years, and this year will not be any different.

The Bears have the players to have one of the better defensive lines in football.

Julius Peppers is a star and one of the best all-around players in the NFL. Anthony Adams and Matt Toeaina are also solid players that should load up the middle at defensive tackle.

While it is important to get pressure on the quarterback and stop the run game, a heavy push by the defensive line may be most important due to the fact that it will make it easier on the secondary.

The Bears have a modest secondary at best and a strong pass rush will greatly reduce the amount of time that they must cover for.

Last season was a clear example of how a Cover 2 defense can be effective, and to replicate this process the Bears must have a strong push from the front four.

1. Strong Play from Offensive Line

The achilles heal of the Bears for the past few seasons has clearly been their offensive line.

For the Bears to be a legitimate threat in the NFC, they have to have better production from their offensive line.

The offensive line this year will be very different than last year with Roberto Garza switching over to center and rookie Gabe Carimi stepping in at tackle. The Bears also parted ways with long time center, Olin Kreutz.

Jay Cutler was rushed, hit, and sacked far too often last season.

People can say that Cutler is soft, but I'd like to see them jump behind center and take the hits that Cutler took last season.

The Bears offensive line has to step up and help out  both the running game and the passing game.

If the Bears offensive line does indeed step up, look for Jay Cutler to show a bit more smiles this season.