Da Bears!
The Chicago Bears kick off their 2012 NFL season today. We’re having the extended family over after church to enjoy the game together. 
While my RPM Ministries Changing Lives blog is typically designed to equip you to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth, today’s goal is quite different! My goal is to predict Da Bears’ record in 2012.
Here we go, game by game…
• Game 1, 9/9, Noon, Indianapolis at Home
The Colts were 2-14 in 2011 for a reason, and they lost some of their better players from a bad team. Yes, they have luck on their side—rookie QB Andrew Luck. Still, if Da Bears lose this one, it doesn’t bode well for the season.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 1-0
• Game 2, 9/13, 7:20 PM, Green Bay on the Road
This is a Thursday night game (hope you have the NFL Network if you want to watch this one). Da Bears have several key players sporting injuries and a quick turn-around like this doesn’t help. Neither does playing the 15-1 Packers at Lambeau. My heart says to pick the Bears, especially given that coach Lovie Smith’s teams typically play well against the Pack. But, on the road, I’ll reluctantly give this one to GB.
Prediction: Bears L, Season Record: 1-1
• Game 3, 9/23, Noon, St. Louis at Home
St. Louis is ranked # 28 of 32 NFL teams in the AP NFL Pro32 Pre-Season Power Rankings. Like Indy, they were 2-14 in 2011. Give this one to Da Bears!
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 2-1
• Game 4, 10/1, 7:30 PM, Dallas on the Road
Are you ready for some football!!! Monday Night Football. Historically, Da Bears have not fared too well on MNF. And Dallas looked good upsetting the defending Super Bowl Champs, the NY Giants. Still, I’ll go out on something of a limb and pick the Bears to win on the road on MNF.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 3-1
• Game 5, 10/7, 3:05 PM, Jacksonville on the Road
A Sunday road game after a Monday night road game is a bad combo. But Jacksonville was 5-11 in 2011 and are ranked # 31 in the AP Poll. This is another must-win game for Da Bears—and they will.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 4-1
• Game 6, 10/22, 7:30 PM, Detroit at Home
This will actually be week 7 of the NFL season as Da Bears have a bye in week 6. That means they have a bye week, get an extra day’s rest (another MNF game), and play at home. That’s a lot in the Bears’ favor. Still, Detroit was a playoff team in 2011. But I’m wondering if they will take a step back in 2012? Tough game, but I’ll give it to Da Bears.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 5-1
• Game 7, 10/28, Noon, Carolina at Home
If I’m right so far, then at this point Da Bears will have one of the top records in the NFL at 5-1. They play at home against the Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers. The Bears tend to contain mobile QB because of the speed of their defense. But that defense is aging. This could be a difficult game, but at home, I’m taking Da. Bears.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 6-1
• Game 8, 11/4, Noon, Tennessee on the Road
The Titans were 9-7 in 2011. The AP has them ranked 21 heading into the season. Do I really think Da Bears could hit the half-way point of the season at 7-1? So much depends on how Urlacher’s knee is holding up, how Conte’s shoulder is feeling, how Pepper’s foot is doing, how Paea’s injury is coming along, and how well rookie Shea McClellan is playing. Trying to predict all of that on September 8, for a November 4 game is not easy. I think the Bears could win, but I have a hard time imagining them at 7-1. Drum roll…
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 7-1
• Game 9, 11/11, 7:20 PM, Houston at Home
Da Bears begin the second half with a Sunday night game at home against the Houston Texans. The Texans seem to be a popular pick to make their first Super Bowl. So much depends on Matt Schaub—can he stay healthy? Assuming he is healthy by mid-season, I have to give this game to Houston with the Bears in a night game (historically, Cutler has not been that great in night games for some reason…).
Prediction: Bears L, Season Record: 7-2
• Game 10, 11/19, 7:30 PM San Francisco on the Road
Another MNF game. Another playoff team. San Fran was 13-3 last year and the AP has them at # 4 for this year. I should pick Da Bears to lose this one, but I’m not convinced that San Fran is legit (those words could come back to haunt me by November 19…). I expect Cutler to outperform his night game norms and connect with Marshall for a couple of TDs as the Bears win.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 8-2
• Game 11, 11/25, Noon, Minnesota at Home
Though this follows a Monday night game, I can’t see Da Bears’ offense losing to the Vikings’ defense—as long as someone blocks Jared Allen once in a while. Keep Cutler standing and the Bears win.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 9-2
• Game 12, 12/1, Noon, Seattle at Home
Will it be Bears’ weather as the NFL season inches into December? The 7-9 Seahawks have had some great games against Da Bears since 2006. I’ll take the Bears to up their record to 10-2. Am I crazy???
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 10-2
• Game 13, 12/9, Noon, Minnesota on the Road
Bears win. That’s all I have to say about a game against the Vikes.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 11-2
• Game 14, 12/16, Noon, Green Bay at Home
This game is scheduled for noon but is a flex game, meaning the NFL can change it to a night game if they think it will garner a huge audience. Duh! Da Bears against the Pack with both teams coming into this game perhaps with identical 11-2 records—it will be a night game.
It could be cold and windy in Chi-town 9 days before Christmas. Bears’ weather. Packers’ weather. Home game. Bears win as Cutler has one of the best games of his career and outplays Aaron Rodgers.
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 12-2
• Game 15, 12/23, 3:15 PM Arizona on the Road
Going into this game, if I have a clue, Da Bears could be in sole possession of first place in the NFC Central and could be heading toward home-field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs. Arizona was a respectable 8-8 in 2011, but I see the Bears finishing them off in this one. That will be a nice Christmas Eve Eve present!
Prediction: Bears W, Season Record: 13-2
• Game 16, 12/30, Noon, Detroit on the Road
Here’s another flex game that will likely be moved to Sunday night. Da Bears could be playing for home-field, but Lovie loves to rest his vets before the playoffs. Since I can’t see the Bears ending at 14-2, and since injuries could be a factor, and resting vets, and a good Detroit team at home…Bears lose.
Prediction: Bears L, Season Record: 13-3
The NFC Playoffs
I could see the NFC playoffs shaking out with Da Bears winning the Central, the defending SB champs winning the East again, the Falcons winning the South, and San Fran winning the weak West. The Packers and the Eagles make the Wild Card.
Da Bears and the Falcons get the byes. Green Bay takes on San Francisco and wins. The Giants defeat their division rivals, the Eagles.
This sets up Da Bears against Green Bay! Wow! The rubber match. Cutler does it again and the Bears advance to the NFC Championship game against the Falcons who beat the defending champs, the Giants.
Da Bears outplay the Falcons and Cutler/Marshall pay off. The Chicago Bears are heading to the Super Bowl!
Super Bowl XLVI
Da Bears will play the Houston Texans in Super Bowl XLVI in New Orleans on February 3, 2013. The Texans beat them earlier in the year. Can they win twice against the Bears?
No.
The Chicago Bears are your 2013 Super Bowl Champs!
Comparison
Back on April 18, I posted another Bears’ prognostication. That one was without the commentary and ended up with a slightly different won/loss record for Da Bears. Check it out here.
Join the Conversation
What is your W/L prediction for Da Bears?
Who do you think will win Super Bowl XLVI?
What is your prediction for your favorite NFL team?
