Chicago Bears: Predicting The Final 6 Regular Season Games Without Jay Cutler

Chicago Bears fans were enjoying a 31-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers in a game where they saw the Bears offense look dominant.

Jay Cutler was playing arguably the best football of his career and wide receivers Roy Williams and Johnny Knox looked like they were starting to get into a rhythm. 

That joy turned into horror though late Sunday night when it was announced he fractured his thumb.  Many analysts have immediately written the Bears season off, with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice going so far as to say the Bears have no chance to make the playoffs.

There is obviously some understandable concerns.  Caleb Hanie has never started a game, and newly-signed backup Josh McCown was out of the NFL for a reason; he wasn't very good.

But is the Bears' season truly over? Let's take a look at how the Bears final six games will play out. 

Week 12: Bears at Oakland Raiders

The Bears will be getting used to Caleb Hanie, but the Raiders are in a similar boat.  Carson Palmer is now 2-1 as the starting quarterback for Oakland, but the question for him is who does he have to throw to?  Jacoby Ford is injured and Darrius Heyward-Bey sprained his neck yesterday.

That basically leaves Denarius Moore and tight end Kevin Boss as the only reliable receivers left on the roster.  Yes, Darren McFadden and Micheal Bush can both catch the ball from the backfield, but this isn't exactly the best receiving duo in football.

If the Bears can hold the Raider running game to under 150 yards, they should have a good chance to win.  The Raiders defense isn't super and is 25th in the NFL against the run so Matt Forte should be able to have a good game. 

If the Bears can go into Philly and take down the Eagles, then they shouldn't be intimidated going to the black hole.  The Bears get out of Oakland with a win.

Bears 24, Oakland 17

Record: 8-3

Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Bears

The Chicago Bears may be dealing with injury issues, but the Chiefs are in even worse trouble.  What's going to be interesting about this game is the Bears made it well known they were interested in bringing in Kyle Orton, but Kansas City claimed him off waivers.

It's very probable that Orton will be playing against the Bears, a team he'd most likely rather be playing for.

In addition to the quarterback issues, the Chiefs lost Jamaal Charles early in the year as well as star safety Eric Berry.  At 4-6, the Chiefs are in trouble and rank on the low end of the totem pole in virtually every offensive and defensive statistic. 

This is a team the Bears should beat whether it's Caleb Hanie, Josh McCown or even third-stringer Nathan Enderle. 

Bears 28, Chiefs 13

Record: 9-3

Week 14: Bears at Denver Broncos

The NFL must be very disappointed that Cutler is hurt.  After all, this may well be the only time in the next seven years Cutler will travel to Denver to play his former team, especially since the mystical Tim Tebow is in town.

By all accounts, this is a game the Bears should win.  They have a defense that should be able to neutralize Tebow's running ability and I can see the Bears putting nine men in the box until Tebow beats them for a deep pass.

Considering the Bears have been able to keep guys like Michael Vick in check, I think the Bears go into Denver and win this game with relative ease.  Denver's pass defense is one of the worst in the league and they are only adequate at stopping the run. 

This game will probably be an ugly one, but the Bears win and may well come close to clinching a playoff berth. 

Bears 17, Broncos 16

Record: 10-3

Week 15: Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears

This is the home finale for the Bears, and on paper, the Bears should win this game too.  However, I see the team stumbling here.  It has all the makings for a trap game after all.

The Bears will be traveling to Green Bay the following week against a team that could very well be undefeated still. Chicago had issues with Seattle last year as well in the regular season and I see the trend continuing here.

Seattle has had a knack for being a thorn in the sides of good teams.  They have a road win at the New York Giants and beat the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens as well.

In what could very well be the Bears last home game this year, they leave the fans in Chicago with a bit of a sour taste in their mouth.

Seattle 20, Chicago 14

Record: 10-4

Week 16: Bears at Green Bay Packers

So let me get this straight.  The Bears have to play against the Packers in Green Bay on Christmas Night?  I don't see this one going well. 

Even with Cutler, the Bears would be in big trouble in this game.  With Caleb Hanie though, I think this one won't be close.

Now do I think it will be a blowout?  No.  After all, no team in the NFL has solved Aaron Rodgers like the Bears have.  I actually see this game playing out similarly to the NFC Championship with Green Bay winning by less than 10 points, but controlling most of the action.

The interesting thing to consider is that these two teams may very well meet again in the postseason.  Considering they had only met one previous time before last year's NFC title game, it'd be fascinating to see it happen again twice in as many seasons.

Packers 20, Bears 13

Record: 10-5

Week 17: Bears at Minnesota Vikings

With 10 wins, it's possible the Bears will already have a playoff spot clinched, considering they hold a tiebreaker over the Atlanta Falcons and may very well hold one over the Detroit Lions by then. 

However, I think this is a game the Bears will win.  The Vikings are going nowhere this year and its possible star running back Adrian Peterson may not even play considering he hurt his ankle last week. 

With a 2-8 record it's unlikely Minnesota will risk their franchise running back sustaining a serious injury in a lost season. 

Playing at Mall of America Field could be a very intimidating experience for Caleb Hanie and it's possible this game won't be pretty.  But I see the Bears defense controlling this game and could quite possible they may even get a touchdown.

The Bears enter the postseason on a high note, winning this game and ensuring they go to the playoffs.

Bears 23, Vikings 10

Record: 11-5

Final Thoughts

A lot of people are writing the Bears off with the injury to Jay Cutler.

In the end, there are already reports Cutler may be back before the end of the regular season.  Frankly, I don't think the Bears need to rush him back.  They have one of the easiest schedules to close this year out and they should be able to win at least three games.  

What I envision is the Bears earning the fifth seed in the playoffs and traveling to Dallas to take on the Cowboys.  It's a matchup the Bears can win.  If that were to happen, it'd mean a trip to Green Bay or San Francisco. 

The injury to Cutler is surely a shame, as the Bears looked like there were approaching a level of quality that resembled their 2006 Super Bowl run.  But people should not write this team off.  The Bears may well still roar in 2011.