How the Bears could be ahead of schedule on their rebuild

The Chicago Bears were the worst team in the NFL in 2022. Most people agree that won't be the case in 2023, but not many have high expectations either.  I tend to think the Bears are being undervalued. For the first time, QB Justin Fields appears to have a solid supporting cast. The defense was […]

Bryce Lazenby
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The Chicago Bears were the worst team in the NFL in 2022. Most people agree that won't be the case in 2023, but not many have high expectations either. 

I tend to think the Bears are being undervalued. For the first time, QB Justin Fields appears to have a solid supporting cast. The defense was restocked with several solid veterans. 

Today, I want to identify the reasons I think the Bears could be ahead of schedule. 

ESPN writer Courtney Cronin recently outlined the ceiling and floor for the Bears in 2023. Cronin listed the ceiling as a 10-7 record, with the floor as 5-12. 

Cronin outlined why some are optimistic the Bears can reach that ceiling. 

There's real optimism around where the Bears can go in the second year of their rebuild because of Moore, whom the Bears received when they traded away the No. 1 pick in March. "[It creates] automatic excitement in the whole building," coach Matt Eberflus said. "It doesn't matter what side you're playing on because you know this guy is special and he can make a lot of things happen."

Entering 2022, the Bears sported probably the worst receiver room in the league. Now, the team has a bonafide No. 1 in Moore, a solid red-zone threat in Chase Claypool, and a promising rookie in Tyler Scott. Add in Darnell Mooney and tight ends Robert Tonyan and Cole Kmet, and Fields suddenly has a solid group of weapons. 

Finally, the defense looks much-improved as well. After collecting the fewest sacks in the league in 2022, the team went out and added Yannick Ngakoue, DeMarcus Walker, and Tremaine Edmunds among others. 

Granted it's preseason, but the Bears' defense looked great against the Titans last week. The Bears collected eight sacks against Tennessee, which is encouraging after the lack of sacks generated last season. 

The NFC North is seemingly wide-open. The Vikings saw a mass exodus of veteran talent, Aaron Rodgers is no longer a Packer, and the Lions still have to show they can win. 

Don't sleep on these Bears in 2023. 

Featured image via © Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

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