Can Nick Foles Make the Bears Playoff Contenders?
It is amazing how times can change so fast in the NFL. Just two years ago, the Chicago Bears were 12-4, NFC North Champions, and if it were not for the “double doink”, the Bears would have won at least one playoff game. Also, Mitch Trubisky had a career year in 2018, prompting many to put high expectations on him and the Bears. Some had them as Super Bowl contenders, while others had Trubisky winning MVP.
Fast forward to 2019, the Bears and Trubisky both regressed, as Chicago finished the season with a mediocre 8-8 record, missing the playoffs. This prompted the Chicago Bears to decline his fifth-year option and trade their fourth-round pick for Jaguars QB Nick Foles.
Many do not have high expectations for the Bears in 2020, but with the roster they have and a quarterback to battle Trubisky for the starting spot, the Chicago Bears may work their way back as playoff contenders. Let us look into how the Bears can get themselves back into the mix.
Defense
While most of the discussion surrounded the offenses poor play last year, the defense that was the best in the NFL in 2018 was almost just as good in 2019. Statistically, Chicago gave up 324.1 yards/game, which was 8th in the NFL. Despite not being as dominant as 2018, a defense as talented as the Bears should not miss the playoffs. For the Bears to make the playoffs, all they need is decent quarterback play, and Nick Foles may provide that if he starts. If Foles just manages the game well, the defense is talented enough to make plays to win games.
Division
This may not be directly how Foles helps the Bears get back into playoff contention, but it shows again that the Bears do not need great quarterback play to get back to the playoffs. The NFC North, for lack of a better word, is weak. The Lions are rebuilding and might fire their coach, Aaron Rodgers is not getting any younger and an underwhelming offseason may come back to bite them, and Minnesota is facing a lot of change in their offense, losing their coordinator and one of their best wide receivers. Nick Foles is more than capable of finding ways to win. That is why he won a Super Bowl two years ago, with one of those playoff wins coming against Chicago. For them to have a chance to win the division, Foles must do what he does best, not turnover the ball and play within himself. That was the problem last year with Trubisky, he got away from what he does best which caused him to struggle.
Foles Can Help… By Not Playing
In some cases, if Nick Foles does not play, that can be a good thing for the Chicago Bears. If Foles does not get the nod and he never plays a snap, that means Trubisky is playing well and the Bears are winning. Both quarterbacks have been open to the competition, but mentally for Trubisky, the trade for Foles may be just what he needed. With the former Super Bowl champion lurking behind him, Trubisky should be extremely motivated and focused coming into the 2020 season, which is why I would not be surprised if Trubisky has a big year if given the keys to the offense. Another way Foles can help if he is not playing is his veteran presence. Foles has proven that he can be a leader as a backup, which is something that Trubisky can learn from if he is the starter. A positive influence could make a positive impact on the Bears and Trubisky, which can result in him returning to his 2018 form.
My Take
With my take, I believe the Chicago Bears are talented enough to make the playoffs and are going to be a huge sleeper going into this season. With a record of 8-8, they just need to be a little better. Two more wins is a 10-6 season and a playoff berth. If Nick Foles can play the way he played in 2018 or if a motivated Trubisky can play like he did in 2018, the Bears can be scary. All in all, this is still a team with a major question mark as the season nears.
Stats from profootballreference.com
-By: Richie Dordas
