Chicago Bears: Predicting a Great Season for Jay Cutler and the Offense

The Chicago Bears offense struggled last season. They were 30th in the NFL in total yards and 21st in points scored. 

The Bears were also 27th in the league, converting on just 33 percent of their third-down attempts. This was due to their biggest weakness: the passing game. 

Their weak passing game was due to a myriad of reasons, including a poor offensive line, subpar wide-receiver play and, at times, a lack of good decision-making by Jay Cutler.

This season will be different. The Bears offensive line has been holding up during the preseason and Jay Cutler has gotten into better shape; he now has great rapport with his receivers.

People have been very unfairly down on the Bears this year. Last season they won the NFC North, had an impressive 11-5 record and made it to the NFC Championship Game. This was all achieved with the worst offensive line in football and terrible play from the wide receivers.

This clearly shows the Bears have a great amount of talent. They are going to sneak up on the NFL with their play this season.  

Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL—mainly because he was written off in 2009 due to his 26 interceptions.

It is beyond ridiculous to deem Cutler a bad quarterback or say he will never be great because of that season.

Eli Manning threw 25 interceptions last year; Drew Brees threw 22. Yet, no one is saying their careers are over. One season with high turnovers does not mean a quarterback is a bust. 

Cutler has a career rating of 84.3 and cut his interceptions by 10 from 2009 to 2010. He has shown he can improve and he has still only started four seasons. He is a young gun ready to take his game to the next level.

Prediction

Touchdowns: 30

Interceptions: 14

Passing Yards: 3,850

Completions: 62.5%  

Matt Forte

I know what you're thinking, but I truly believe that Matt Forte is also very underrated for his talent level.

He has over 1,400 total yards in all three seasons he has been in the league.

The knock on Forte is that he is not a great pure runner, which is true, but he has shown great improvement. Last season he rushed for 4.5 YPC, which was tied for 12th best in the NFL—and just .1 YPC behind Adrian Peterson.

He was also 15th in rushing yards even though 11 of the 14 players ahead of him rushed more than he did. 

Forte is also one of the greatest receivers out of the backfield in the NFL, which is why he is so versatile.

Overall the Bears should be better on offense this year, which will lead to more opportunities for Forte. 

If nothing else, Forte's newly shaved head could make him more aerodynamic. 

Prediction:

Rushing Yards: 1,140

Rushing Touchdowns: 8

Receiving Yards: 475

Receiving Touchdowns: 3 

Total Yards:1,615

Total Touchdowns: 11

Roy E. Williams

I am high on the Bears offense this season, but not because of Roy Williams. Williams is currently slotted as the No.1 receiver on the Bears roster, but only because of his history with Mike Martz.  

Williams had one good season in 2006. He is just a shell of himself; he has failed to record more than 40 catches or 600 yards in the last four years. 

He will never be the elite receiver he was thought to be, but he could still be a solid role player.  

The Bears should quickly realize that Johnny Knox is the superior receiver, and I expect Williams to hit the pine. 

Prediction:

Receiving Yards: 525

Catches: 41

Receiving Touchdowns: 5 

Devin Hester

Devin Hester is the greatest return man in the history of the NFL, but he should not be a starting wide receiver. The Bears have failed to come to this realization, however, as they are starting him opposite Roy Williams to begin the season.

Hester has only been given a shot at wide receiver because of his speed and return success. He came into the NFL as a defensive back and couldn't do that job, so they moved him to wide receiver.

But Hester still has his defensive hands. One minute he will blow by someone and score a 50-yard touchdown, the next minute he will turn around and drop an open 5-yard pass.

The Bears are in love with Hester as a receiver, so he will put up decent numbers this year.   

Prediction:

Receiving Yards: 725

Catches: 53

Receiving Touchdowns: 6  

Johnny Knox

Johnny Knox was the Bears' best receiver in 2010, with 960 yards receiving, and he did so in just his second year in the league.

The Bears could have something special with Knox, but are on the verge of blowing his career and running him out of town. 

Knox has stayed optimistic, even though he lost his starting gig to the inferior Roy Williams. This could have been Knox's breakout season, but unless he gets his job back quickly he will not have the opportunity.

Prediction:

Receiving Yards: 910 

Catches: 57

Receiving Touchdowns: 7 

Earl Bennett

Earl Bennett is the Bears' most talented receiver. He has a great connection with Jay Cutler dating back to their days at Vanderbilt. 

Bennett has been the Bears' leading receiver this preseason, even though he is listed as the No. 3 receiver on the depth chart. He has the capabilities of being a star receiver in the NFL, and this season he will breakout alongside Jay Cutler. 

I expect Bennett to finish the season with the best receiving statistics for the Bears. His great play should open up the field for the rest of the offense. 

Bennett is going to be a big surprise this season. 

Prediction:

Receiving Yards: 1,060

Catches: 67

Receiving Touchdowns: 8