Chicago Bears: Confidence building for Super Bowl run in 2019
With the bad taste from last season’s ending still in their mouths, the Chicago Bears feel that 2019 is their year. Some are going all in, saying they’ll win it all.
This Chicago Bears team has something special about it entering 2019. After losing in their playoff game to the Philadelphia Eagles last season, there is an aura of unfinished business around Halas Hall. The players still feel the sting of that loss, especially how it ended in the “double-doink heard around the world.”
That loss appears to be a big motivator for the returning players. They want to make up for how awful the season ended. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said, despite the fact that he’ll keep going forward, the loss will always bother him.
The new players seem to feel it. Because of that unfinished business that the returning players have, the newcomers feel something special. Take Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, for example. He’s replacing a fan favorite in Adrian Amos. He feels something different in Chicago, something special, per the Orlando Sentinel:
"“Man, it feels good. I’m glad to be a part of something special going on in Chicago right now. We have a chance to be special and I’m glad to be a part of this unit.”"
Additionally, coaches and receivers rave about how much better Trubisky is at handling the offense. He spent last year learning the system. Now he knows it and the confidence he has is through the roof. The team knows that without him taking another step forward the team cannot get to the top of the NFL world.
Last season, the Bears felt they could finally get out of the NFC North basement. Not many could envision a 12-4 record, division title and a total beatdown of Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams. The fact that they eventually became NFC champions upset the Bears even more.
All of this special feeling talk got to safety Eddie Jackson. Jackson knows a thing or two about being on great, championship teams. He played on the 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide team that won the college football championship. He also played on the 2016 team whose only loss was in the championship game. Those teams combined for a 28-2 record.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
At the Bears100 celebration, Akiem Hicks spoke on a panel with team greats Ed O’Bradovich, Dan Hampton and Tommie Harris. They all challenged him to greatness and to help bring another championship to Chicago. Hicks felt pumped up and accepted all their challenges. In the end, the crowd was pumped up and giving Hicks and the Bears greats a rousing standing ovation.
He feels the same way about this Chicago Bears team that he felt being on those great Alabama teams. His fondness for the team helped Clinton-Dix, his teammate on the Crimson Tide, decide to come to Chicago.
Jackson feels so good about Chicago that he says the team will win this season’s Super Bowl. He didn’t say they had a great chance, he all but guaranteed they were going to win it all, according to the Chicago Sun-Times:
"“Everything—how short, and how far, we came. From the losing record to the winning record. How short we came, with the first-round playoff game with the field goal. Right now we just want to build off everything and let that be the fuel to our fire. We plan on taking this whole thing.”"
The playoff loss hits Jackson more than others. He was an All-Pro in 2018 but suffered an injury just before the end of the regular season and missed the playoff game. Perhaps the result would be different if he was there playing. There were other key players who missed that game as well (tight end Trey Burton and cornerback Bryce Callahan, for example).
Some might be critical and feel all this championship talk shouldn’t be happening. I, on the other hand, think this is great. You can only go as far as you think you can go. The players should challenge themselves to be as great as they can.
Next. NFL Power Rankings: Post-minicamp edition. dark
Yes, there are some teams whose ceiling isn’t winning it all. They’ll be happy with an even record (8-8). That isn’t the case with the Bears. They should be on that “Super Bowl or Bust” train. Seeing teams they competed well against make it to the Super Bowl and win it gives them hope.
It’s been a while since hope ran rampant around the Chicago Bears. Having it brings excitement to the city and Bears fans. There isn’t a problem with Jackson and his teammates reaching for the stars. It’s about time it happened. Now if they can just get a kicker.