Chicago Bears 2010 Schedule Release Day: Predictions Already??!!

We do not know the exact schedule how it works out, but what we do know is who the Bears will play both at home and on the road. 

Here's how this year's Chicago Bears opponents shake out.
 

Home - Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, New York Jets

Away - Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

 
I will start with the division opponents (Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota)
 
Bears vs. Detroit (2-0)  Although the Detroit Lions have improved on both sides of the ball in free agency and by way of trade, the Lions are still run by a young quarterback that I believe still doesn't have the weapons to be successful.  It's basically throw to Calvin Johnson and the Lions have not had a 1,000 yard rusher in five seasons.  The offense is one dimensional and for a franchise which has only two wins in the last two seasons, I will go with my gut and say the Bears will sweep the season series in 2010.
 
Bears vs. Green Bay (1-1) - Always difficult to pick these games because of the Lovie Smith factor.  As bad as some Bears seasons can be, they find a way to beat Green Bay somehow someway.  In fact, last season was the first time the Packers swept the season series during the Lovie Smith regime in Chicago.  I absolutely love Aaron Rodgers (I think he is top five in the NFL), and the defense of the Green Bay Packers (ranked #2 in the NFL last season) is extremely good.  I will say one and one based on the fact in Lovie Smith's last year as head coach, he will still accomplish his number one goal when he got hired.....beat Green Bay.
 
Bears vs. Vikings (?) - This is all dependent on Brett Favre's status as quarterback of the team.  I do not necessarily feel sorry for the Vikings organization because when they went out and got Favre, they knew what they were getting into with the Favre waiting game.  The reason they signed Taveras Jackson yesterday to an extension is simply because that is the backup plan.  For the good of the NFL and the NFC North, I hope Favre comes back because the focus and competition will increase, but then again I want my team to win.  If Favre comes back, I do not think the Bears have a shot (0-2)...if Taveras Jackson or Sage Rosenfels is leading the charge (1-1)
 
Now onto the NFC Opponents:
 
Bears Lose to Washington Redskins - Say what you will, Donovan McNabb is a winner.  Keep in mind last season the wide receiver core he had to work with and when Brian Westbrook went down, worked great with rookie running back LeSean McCoy.  The addition of McNabb automatically makes the Redskins 2-3 wins better than last year and with the money the Redskins are willing to spend, I do not think their off season is quite done.  Look for the skins to add a veteran WR to help out Santana Moss with double teams, and if Clinton Portis can stay healthy, this could be a team to watch.  This will be a tough match up against a team headed in a new direction and the Bears only won two games last season against a 3-4 defense (GB, Cleveland).
 
Bears Win Against Seattle - I've always stated that great NFL coaches cannot coach in college, and great college coaches cannot coach in the NFL.  Pete Carroll will put my theory to the test this season with an aging Matt Hasselbeck who has not played a full season since 2007, teams without full time quarterbacks normally do not do well.  The Seahawks defense will be a test, but if the Bears can run the ball against this front seven, it should not be close.
 
Bears Lose To Dallas Cowboys - This is the rumored "Thanksgiving Match Up" that the Cowboys host each season.  Personally I hate the idea of Lions and Cowboys every Thanksgiving, but the NFL is not dumb.  The NFL wants to aim for a large market team to fit the bill after the allure of the New Texas Stadium buzz has gone by the wayside.  The Cowboys have not lost on Thanksgiving since 2005, and last season went into the Final Four of the NFC playoffs for the first time since 1996.  This is a team on the rise with a very tough defense, it'll be tough to get a big W in big D for the Bears.
 
Bears Lose to New York Giants - Granted the Giants had a very disappointing year last season in finishing at a record of 8-8.  However, they upgraded their pass defense with the addition of Antrel Rolle and as much as New York fans want Tom Coughlin gone each season, he is pretty good at "bounce back" seasons.  In his first season as head coach the Giants finished at 6-10, the following season 11-5.  In 2006 the Giants finished 8-8, the following year 10-6.  The Giants will incorporate their running game more with the two system backfield of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw and keep in mind that Eli Manning had foot problems for most of the season last year.  The last time the Bears played in New York was 2006 going 2-0, but I will take the Giants with this one.
 
Bears Win Against Carolina - This will be the game where we find out how much Julius Peppers meant to the Carolina Panthers defense.  I suspect that this will be a game circled many times on Julius Peppers' calendar.  This is a rebuilding year for Carolina with Matt Moore starting at quarterback and a defense that is missing their franchise player for the first time in eight years.  Easy win here for Da Bears.
 
Now onto the AFC Opponents:
 
Bears Win Against New England Patriots - The Pats are an aging team in need of some youth.  Tom Brady and Randy Moss' relationship has been in question for a couple of seasons now and the biggest question of the season will be Wes Welker and how he returns from a torn ACL/MCL injury suffered last season against the Texans.  This is not going to be the same dominant Patriots we have seen in years past and Bill Belichick will be tested once again in this seasons draft to begin infusing youth into an aging dynasty.  The Soldier Field turf I imagine will give Welker problem (if he plays) and the Pats just do not have the running game to make up for a hit or miss passing game.  
 
Bears Lost To New York Jets - This is by far the best team on paper in the AFC.  Say what you will about Mark Sanchez going into his sophomore season at quarterback, all he has to do is not turn the ball over.  The Jets have a stellar defense, a good running game, and better than average wide receivers.  This could be the AFC representative in the Super Bowl and I simply do not think the Bears will be able to score much on this defense with the addition of Antonio Cromartie.  Bears lose this one, and could be by a lot.
 
Bears Win Against Buffalo Bills - Come on, whether the game is played in Buffalo or Toronto, this will be the easiest win outside the division the Bears will have all season long.
 
Bears Lose To Miami Dolphins - The Wildcat offense is something to be reckoned with, and last year proved it.  The Dolphins combo of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown averaged 140 yards per game on the ground and now with the addition of Brandon Marshall....ouch babe!  The Bears head will head to south beach and will have to put up points on this defense.  This one I imagine will be a shootout in the making, but I think the home field advantage helps out here.  Close but fun game here.
 
Looking at my game by game predictions, it breaks down like this.
 
If Brett Favre plays - Bears will finish 7-9
If Brett Favre doesn't play - Bears will finish 8-8
 
Is not it funny how almost everything in the NFL revolves around Brett Favre, including my pre-NFL Draft schedule predictions.  Go Bears!!
 
-RoCk
 
Rock Mamola is the Associte Producer of The Mully And Hanley Morning Show and co-host of The Joe O And Rock Show on WSCR 670AM The Score.
 
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