Bears Get To See How They Stack Up After Making Big Changes

LAKE FOREST, Ill. The Chicago Bears made significant offseason acquisitions that they think would help them rise from the bottom of the NFL standings.

But it’s not just the personnel changes that coach Matt Eberflus thinks great things are on the way. He notices something else at work as well.

“I would say I feel better about the identity overall, just because we’ve been in the system one more year, the coaches are more familiar with the players, the players that we have, bringing the new guys on, we’re bringing more experienced players,” Eberflus explained. “I definitely feel more at ease with that part of it.”

When the Bears host Green Bay in their season opener on Sunday, they’ll know where they stand. With Aaron Rodgers now with the New York Jets and Jordan Love at quarterback for the Packers, the NFL’s oldest rivalry will have a different feel.

Green Bay has dominated Chicago in recent decades, winning eight straight and going 25-5 with Rodgers at the helm.

Of course, the Bears have a distinct appearance.

The Chicago Bears made significant offseason acquisitions that they think would help them rise from the bottom of the NFL standings.

When they acquired DJ Moore from Carolina with the No. 1 pick in the draught, they completed a blockbuster trade for a playmaking receiver to assist quarterback Justin Fields. They strengthened their offensive line while strengthening their defense by signing linebackers Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, and veteran edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue.

These decisions have them believing they’ll take a new path in their second season under Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles.

Given that they finished with a league-worst 3-14 record and set a team record for defeats last season, they must demonstrate that larger things are on the way.

“We have acquired a lot of players, you know, and some good ones if you look at both sides of the ball,” Eberflus remarked.

“So we’re confident in our players.” We’re excited about the matchup and that those men will be able to compete against our opponent. It will be thrilling.”

But it’s not only how the Bears compare to the Packers. While Rodgers has joined the New York Jets, the reigning division champion Minnesota Vikings have a new look.

The Chicago Bears made significant offseason acquisitions that they think would help them rise from the bottom of the NFL standings.

The Vikings released four players who had appeared in ten Pro Bowls, including running back Dalvin Cook, after his fourth 1,000-yard season. Despite going 13-4 in coach Kevin O’Connell’s debut season, the Vikings set an NFL record by winning 11 one-score games.

“I know what’s going on around the league and in our division,” said safety Jaquan Brisker. “But as long as we’re worried about what we have to do, we’ll just keep moving forward.”

Fields’ improvement as a passer will undoubtedly determine how far they progress. While he sparkled with 1,143 yards on the ground, narrowly missing Lamar Jackson’s NFL single-season rushing record for a quarterback, it was a different story when he threw the ball.

Fields threw for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns while sharing the league lead with 55 sacks with Russell Wilson. He only had two 200-yard throwing performances in his career, and his season high was 254 yards versus the Packers at Soldier Field in December.

The defense also had significant concerns.

The Bears finished with 20 sacks, the fewest in the NFL since the 2003 club had 18. No defensive lineman had more than three, while Brisker led the team with four. Ngakoue, a Pro Bowl selection with the Jaguars in 2017, should contribute to the pass rush. He recorded 9 1/2 sacks for Indianapolis last season and 10 for Las Vegas in 2021.

“The standard for this year is very high, whether in the back seven or the front four,” Brisker remarked. “The standard is high, so the energy is just different.” We all trust one another, and our chemistry is fantastic. And then there’s our swag; having our swag, energy, and things like that is huge.”

NOTE: Brisker stated that he “should be ready to go” for the start of the season after missing the preseason due to an unexplained injury.

SOURCE – (AP)