Week 1: @ Green Bay (Sunday Night Football) The Bears will begin their season in the public eye for the second straight season this year. I was one of the folks who doubted them against the Colts last year, and I will not do the same this season. Lovie Smith has lived up to his promise to beat the Packers and done so more often than not. The Packers have looked great in the preseason, but the Bears take this one 27-24.
Week 2: vs. Pittsburgh (CBS) Even coming off an emotional win vs. the rival Packers, the Bears will be outmatched by the defending Super Bowl Champs as they will keep the Bears O at bay all day. The Bears D against the run has been suspect and will be called out in Week 2. Steelers 31, Bears 17.
Week 3: @ Seattle (FOX) The Bears start the weak portion of their schedule with a 3pm start at Seattle. Even with TJ at receiver, the Seabirds don’t have enough to match the new look of the Bears offense. Bears 30, Seahawks 13.
Week 4: vs. Detroit (FOX) Jay Cutler will explode in his first of two monster games against the Lions in 2009. Once the Bears get out to a big lead in the first half, Forte will carry it home with a 120+ yard effort. Stafford may be the answer in Detroit, but not this week. Bears roll 34 – 10.
Week 5: Bye Good time for the bears to reflect on their 3-1 start going into a tough Primetime match-up against the Falcons.
Week 6: @ Atlanta (Sunday Night Football) The Bears will try to exact revenge for a last second loss in 2008 that could have put the Bears in the playoffs at seasons end but Ryan, Turner and White are just will prove to be too much at home for them to overcome. Falcons 34, Bears 26.
Week 7: @ Cincinnati (FOX) Three of the next four should be cupcakes for the Bears, including this one. Ochocinco will not be enough to beat this Bears team, as Cedric Bensen will do more to stop the run than the bears D will. Bears 27, Bengals 17.
Week 8: vs. Cleveland (CBS) The Browns are in a rebuilding mode and the Bears are not spelling a large defeat for the Browns at home. Brady Quinn is not nearly enough to lead the Browns. Forte should have another 100+ plus yard effort as the Bears cruise to a victory. Bears 33, Browns 20.
Week 9: vs. Arizona (FOX) The Super Bowl runner up has something to prove this year, and their high-flying Offense, with Fitz and Boldin, are just too much as the Cardinals win in a shootout 37-30.
Week 10: @ San Francisco (Thursday Night Football) Mike Singletary will try to best his former franchise, but the pieces are not in place–even with stud Frank Gore in the backfield. Forte rolls again and so do the, Bears 26 to 13.
Week 11: vs. Philadelphia (Sunday Night Football) The Bears won a primetime match-up against the Eagles last season, but I fear things will be different this year, as the Eagles look like a different team on D. The Bears O will not be completely shut down but will not produce enough in a 24 to 17 loss.
Week 12: @ Minnesota (FOX) Adrian Peterson has destroyed the Bears D every year since he has come into the league. This year, the Bears actually have the ability to score points to match him. Favre throws a costly pick late and the Bears win 31 to 24
Week 13: vs. St. Louis (FOX) Forte dominated the Rams last year in St Louis and it wont be any different this season. Pace gets revenge and the Bears roll 41 to 16.
Week 14: vs. Green Bay (FOX) Green Bay will be coming in looking for revenge and they will get it in Chicago just as in years past. Rodgers to Jennings is too much in the end. Packers win 26 to 20.
Week 15: @ Baltimore (FOX) The Ravens D has been in decline in recent years, just like the Bears. However, our Bears have more weapons on Offense, which will make the difference in a low scoring game, Bears win 19-13.
Week 16: vs. Minnesota (Monday Night Football) AP and the Vikings get their revenge late in the season in a meaningful game in Chicago as Favre plays well enough to win and AP dominates as usual. Vikings take it 28 to 24.
Week 17: @ Detroit (FOX) The Bears have the benefit of facing the bewildered Lions in the last week of the season and the result will be the same as the previous meeting. Cutler, Forte and company roll 36 to 17.
My final prediction for the 2009 Chicago Bears is 10-6, winning the North via Tiebreaker against the Green Bay Packers. 10 wins will not be good enough for the Bears to get a first round bye. I see the Bears beating a Wild Card team in the first round (perhaps the Packers) and winning a road playoff game in the Divisional round. The Bears will lose to a more complete team than themselves in the Giants on the road in the NFC title game.
Most of the pieces are in place this season but they are not complete enough yet to go all the way. Next off-season, they need to get a true number one wide-out and another playmaker on D. The pieces will then be in place for a 2010 Superbowl run.
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