Chicago Bears: 8 Things the Team Needs to Do to Make the Playoffs

The Chicago Bears have the same record as they did last year heading into the bye week.

However, they reeled off five straight wins after last year's bye, and that is not something that can be counted on.

Therefore, what needs to happen for the Bears to put themselves into position to make the playoffs?

Can Matt Forte continue his incredible season and carry the Bears solely on his back to the playoffs?

Well, what we do think we know is that it will probably take 10 wins to make the playoffs in the NFC. Although the Giants failed to make the playoffs last season despite 10 wins, there are a lot of 3-4, 4-3 teams bunched up in the NFC, so 10 wins seems reasonable.

But for the Bears to get to 10 wins, they will need some help from other teams, as well as improved play in a lot of areas.

We all know nobody is perfect, so let's just focus on the most pressing things the Bears need to have happen in order to once again have playoff football in Chicago.  

Other NFC Teams Need to Cooperate

Look, I know head coaches always tell teams to not be concerned about what other teams do when they are not playing your team.

But there is no escaping the fact that trouble could be brewing if a team or two suddenly gets hot and reels off five or six consecutive victories.

What if the Lions get back to the business of winning again and take the first Wild Card? Then that leaves only one spot for the Bears and every other contender.

I am assuming the Packers are going to win the North, unfortunately. They are just too damn good to think otherwise.

That said, it doesn't appear that the Bears' competition for the final Wild Card slot will come from the West. Only the 49ers are playing anywhere near above-average football.

So that leaves the East and the South. In the East, there are some talented, but underachieving teams like the Giants and, yes, even Philadelphia to contend with. So let's hope they continue playing mediocre football.

That leaves the trio of the Saints, Bucs and Falcons as the Bears' main competition. I think the Saints win the division, so it could come down to the Bears versus the Falcons. Fortunately for Chicago, it already has wins against both Tampa Bay and Atlanta.

Atlanta has a relatively soft schedule ahead of them, save two games against New Orleans. They could very easily go 7-2, which would make them 11-5 on the season.

So Chicago needs the Falcons to stumble against the likes of Indy, Tennessee, Minnesota, Houston, Carolina, Jacksonville or Tampa.

Need to Control Mad Mike

Of course, this one has been beaten to death, so my apologies for stating the obvious here.

But it needs to be said.

The Bears need an early lead in games so they can run the ball and take advantage of Matt Forte's brilliant season.

But even if they get early leads, Lovie Smith and Mike Tice need to stay in Martz's ear and check him whenever he gets too pass-happy.

Balance is the key, as well as short third down conversions to keep the chains moving.

No more seven-step drops—more use of the shotgun and roll-out, screen passes to Forte and Marion Barber, and crisp, quick, well-timed routes are all things this Bears offense needs.

The Bears also need to utilize Cutler's athleticism more.

You see, the concern I have is that the Bears are coming off consecutive wins, so there isn't that pressing urgency to control Mad Mike like there was last year at the bye.

But that doesn't mean the Bears shouldn't control this guy. They simply must keep reigning him in and examining his play-calling. We simply cannot have three straight pass plays from the 5-yard line.

And in fairness to Martz, they have reigned him in, for the most part. He isn't running his full offensive package by any means.

Still, no more Mad Mike. Please.

Improved Safety Play

Well, for this one to occur, the Bears are hoping the kids are alright.

Because after the release of Chris Harris, it is apparent that Major Wright and Chris Conte—two young and inexperienced safeties—are going to be leaned on very heavily the rest of the way.

The Bears have used six different players and five different combinations of safeties so far this season. That safety carousel has to stop.

Now, they do have veteran safety and Patriots cast-off Brandon Meriweather, but thus far, he just does not seem suited for the Cover 2 defense.

He likes to freelance, and that doesn't work well in Lovie's scheme. Meriweather hits like a freight train, sometimes illegally, but his coverage leaves a lot to be desired.

Meanwhile, Conte has looked impressive for a rookie, but we really haven't seen enough of him yet to say he's the answer.

The other variable is Wright. The knock on him has been his lack of coverage skills, going back to college.  

The Bears need both to step up and play above their experience levels for this team to succeed against the better QBs in the league. That over-the-top safety help is so critical in Cover 2.

Stop the Run

The Bears' defense needs to do what it has always done best, and that is containing the opposing team's run-offense on a consistent basis.

That has been spotty this season.

In 2010, the Bears ranked second in rushing defense. This year, they rank 22nd.

Only two teams have allowed a better rushing average against them (New Orleans and St. Louis).

Atlanta ran very well in the season-opener, averaging 7.9 yards per carry. The Saints were about average against the Bears, and the Packers were held in check.

Meanwhile, Carolina and Detroit were both able to run all over the Bears, but the last two teams the Bears have played—the Vikings and the Bucs—were not able to run at all against the Bears' defense.

Sounds pretty inconsistent to me. Except for one game, the opposing offense either killed us on the ground or were able to do nothing. Very extreme.

The good news is the trend is pointing up, and if the Bears can continue doing what they did against Minny and Tampa, they will force the opposing offense to be one-dimensional.

Matt Forte Continues His MVP Campaign

Matt Forte is the Bears offense, so for Chicago to succeed in the second half, Forte will need to keep up his amazing season.

I know it's a lot to ask, but the offense depends on him so much. He's the team's best running back and best receiver. Forte even blocks fairly well.

Look, he leads the NFL backs in all-purpose yards and is second to Adrian Peterson in rushing yardage.

Hopefully, the lack of a contract extension will keep him motivated, because if he gets too upset about it to where it kind of makes him lose his desire, the Bears are in serious trouble.

On the season, Forte has averaged 5.4 yards per carry and has not fumbled. In fact, he has not fumbled since 2009 (jinx alert).

Forte has also racked up 419 yards receiving, averaging 11 yards per catch.  

I'd like some more of that, please—and so would the Bears.

Roy Williams Becomes Go-to Guy for Cutler

Roy Williams was expected to once again thrive in the Mike Martz system, and after a very slow start, he appears to finally be getting the hang of that and his relationship with Cutler.

If so, that would be huge for the Bears and for Cutler, who needs a go-to guy.

Yes, Earl Bennett is coming back, and he's the most trusted receiver they have. But if Williams can continue demonstrating some of the things he flashed in the Tampa game, that would be big.

For example, the ability to quickly get off the jam (as he showed on that TD pass) is exactly what Martz preaches. It's something Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and the smaller Bears receivers struggle to do.

You see, the reason Martz likes to call for seven-step drops is to give his receivers time to get open. Part of that is due to the complicated route schemes, though Martz has dummied that down.

The other part is if the receivers can elude that 5-yard area where opposing defenses can put their hands on them, they get open quicker and Cutler can throw those quick, crisp passes.

I can't say I would count on it happening, but if what we saw was real progress by Williams, this could be a much better second half.

Offensive Line Needs to Continue Protecting Cutler

Yes, I'm talking to you, J'Marcus Webb.

You've played better recently, but you've got a long way to go before I trust you to protect Cutler's blind-side.

Webb is still learning the position, and while he has the athleticism to play left tackle, he needs a lot of help. Chipping on the edge has been beneficial, but can we trust Martz to keep that extra tight end in to block?

Meanwhile, the entire line is still suspect, no matter how they have looked the past couple of games.

I think Roberto Garza has played pretty well at center, and Chris Williams is doing much better than I expected.

The return of Carimi is a good thing, but it may not help the line as much as you might expect, since Lance Louis has been doing very well.

But there is no question that this line must play well for the Bears to make the playoffs.  

Good Health

The Bears will need to keep their core players—especially Cutler, Forte, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers and Charles Tillman—healthy during the second half.

But they will also benefit from the return and healing up of some other injured Bears.

Gabe Carimi is expected to return against the Eagles, and although the right tackle position has been manned very well in his absence, he will likely go back to that spot.

So the Bears will need to figure out what to do with Chris Spencer and Lance Louis, each of whom has played well recently.

Peppers has had extra time for his knee to completely heal up, and I'm sure that all the hits Cutler has taken has left their toll, so the time off will help those guys.

Meanwhile, Devin Hester (chest), Kellen Davis (elbow) and Harris (hip) should also benefit from the bye.

The return of Earl Bennett, perhaps the Bears' best receiver and Cutler's most trusted target, could be very important as well. As a slot receiver, Cutler may turn to him when in trouble or in need of a short gain on third down.

Other injured Bears, such as Matt Toeaina and Corey Wootton, could also help with defensive depth in the second half.