Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles did a good job of rebuilding the roster. With the NFC North undergoing changes and now wide open, they have a shot at winning it.
As the 2023 NFL season approaches, the Chicago Bears find themselves with an overhauled roster. General manager Ryan Poles entered the offseason with the highest salary cap space and the number one pick in the NFL Draft.
With those assets, he did a good job of improving the team. There is better talent and depth in key positions. Additionally, he gave quarterback Justin Fields better protection and more weapons. After taking a big step in 2022, he could take another big step and thrive in 2023.
With a combination of these offseason improvements and an improvement of talent to the core of the roster, the Bears have several compelling reasons why they can emerge as the team to beat in their division. There are a number of factors that give the Chicago Bears a legitimate shot at winning the NFC North. Here are some of them.
4 reasons the Chicago Bears could win the NFC North
1. A Revamped Offense
One of the primary reasons why the Bears have a shot at the NFC North title is the overhaul of their offense. Offensively, the Bears possess a talented group of skill position players that can make significant contributions. With more talent surrounding the quarterback, his passing game should see a considerable improvement, adding a new dimension to their offensive attack.
A revamped offensive line with Nate Davis at guard and Darnell Wright at tackle and an expanded array of weapons at the skill positions such as wide receiver D.J. Moore, tight end Robert Tonyan, running backs D’Onta Foreman, as well as rookie running back Roschon Johnson and rookie speedster Tyler Scott, further enhance their chances of success.
The combination of established veterans and emerging young talent gives the Bears an advantage in creating mismatches and generating big plays.
Last season the Bears led the league in rushing. Most of that was thanks to Fields’ historic running. With all that running comes hits. The Bears want to see him take fewer hits in the season. With Foreman and Johnson (as well as free agent signee Travis Homer, who could also catch passes out of the backfield) playing alongside Khalil Herbert, who had some great explosive plays last season, the rushing attack could still be formidable without depending so much on Fields’ legs. That way, his runs will still be impactful while preserving his health.