Bears destined for the playoffs??

[hebs]

If history is any indicator, they very well could be.

Bears pull off rare preseason feat that's produced 2 Super Bowl champs, 6 playoff teams over past 15 years​

Bears pull off rare preseason feat that's produced 2 Super Bowl champs, 6 playoff teams over past 15 years

When it comes to the NFL preseason, the games are generally viewed as being pretty meaningless. What happens during the preseason doesn't really translate to whether a team will have any success in the regular-season. (Just ask the 2008 Lions and 2017 Browns about that. Both teams went 4-0 in the preseason before going 0-16 in the regular-season.)

Although the preseason doesn't really serve as a good predictor for the regular season, there has been one stat that has somehow translated to regular-season success and that's point differential. And if you're a fan of the Chicago Bears, this is where you're going to want to start paying attention.

Thanks to their 34-21 win over the Chiefs on Thursday night, the Bears will finish the preseason with a record of 4-0. In those four games, the Bears outscored their opponents by 68 points. As someone on Reddit pointed out, that was the highest preseason point differential by any team since 2013.

So, does a high preseason point differential mean anything? It turns out that it might.

The Bears are the seventh team since 2009 to finish a preseason with a point differential of +60 or more, and the six previous teams ALL MADE THE PLAYOFFS, including two teams that went on to win the Super Bow.

Let's check out the other six teams on the list:

2009 New Orleans Saints​

• Preseason record: 3-1
• Point differential: +69
• Regular-season: 13-3

The Saints started the regular season 13-0 on their way to winning the NFC South. In the playoffs, things got even better as they ended up winning the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

2011 Detroit Lions​

• Preseason record: 4-0
• Point differential: +67
• Regular-season: 10-6

After going 11 years without a playoff berth, the Lions drought finally ended. It came during a season where they blew everyone out in the preseason.

2012 Seattle Seahawks​

• Preseason record: 4-0
• Point differential: +78
• Regular-season: 11-5

During Russell Wilson's rookie year, the Seahawks blew out everyone in the preseason and then proceeded to also dominate during the regular season. After finishing second in the NFC West, the Seahawks won a wild-card playoff game before losing in the divisional round to the Falcons.

2013 Seattle Seahawks​

• Preseason record: 4-0
• Point differential: +73
• Regular-season: 13-3

Pete Carroll clearly took his preseason football seriously, because for the second straight year, not only did the Seahawks go 4-0 in the preseason, but they once again outscored their opponents by at least 70 points. The 2013 season ended with Carroll and the Seahawks hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after beating the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.

2014 Denver Broncos​

• Preseason record: 3-1
• Point differential: +62
• Regular-season: 12-4

During Peyton manning's penultimate season in Denver, the Broncos rolled through the preseason with two of their three wins coming by at least 24 points. Their preseason dominance translated to the regular season during which they won the AFC West. However, they did get upset by the Colts in the divisional round of the playoffs.

2019 Baltimore Ravens​

• Preseason record: 4-0
• Point differential: +66
• Regular-season: 14-2

John Harbaugh loves to play to win in the preseason and we know that because Baltimore once won an NFL-record 24 straight preseason games. During that streak, this was the only season where the Ravens outscored their preseason opponents by at least 60 points. In the regular season, not only did the Ravens finish with the best record in the NFL, but Lamar Jackson also won MVP.

The Bears are now the seventh team to outscore their preseason opponents by 60 or more points. If history holds, that means they'll be headed to at least the playoffs.

The Bears do have a young quarterback in Caleb Williams, but several teams on this list actually fit that mold. As we mentioned, the Seahawks had a rookie QB in Russell Wilson in 2012. When the Lions ran through the preseason in 2011, they had a third-year QB in Matthew Stafford. And let's not forget about Lamar Jackson, who was just in his second season when he led the Ravens to a 14-2 record in 2019.

 

[knoxville7]

K

 

[greg23]

The NFC sucks

Stay healthy and why not?

 

[gallagher]

If Caleb Williams is the real deal early on, sure! But wouldnt big wins in the preseason only indicate having good depth?

Depth is important at all, but a ticket to the playoffs will depend on guys like Williams, Moore and Allen beating up on the competition.

 

[Aquineas]

Not without a d!

 

[gallagher]

Not without a d!

This team was 21 points for and 22 points against last year. If the defense stands pat and the offense improves by a FG on average, we are playoff bound!

SUPER BEARS SUPER BOWL

 

[Aquineas]

This team was 21 points for and 22 points against last year. If the defense stands pat and the offense improves by a FG on average, we are playoff bound!

SUPER BEARS SUPER BOWL

Whoosh!

 

[mecha]

the 1985 team I think went 1-3 in preseason (won Super Bowl)
the 2010 team I think went 0-4 in preseason (made NFC championship game/ruined Desmond Clark/lost)

I don't think this is the barometer we're looking for. Bears need to find a way to actually win games against division rivals again. if they're not capable of that then they're just going to be one and done Nagy level garbage.

 

[Enasic]

They’re making the playoffs, boys. 11-6 gets you in every time

 

[gallagher]

Whoosh!
View attachment 40039

That went so far over my head, I thought it was a bird!

 

[NCChiFan]

I bet the over on 8.5 wins.

 

[BearFanJohn]

I bet the over on 8.5 wins.

Good bet.

 

[UChiLAbear]

the 1985 team I think went 1-3 in preseason (won Super Bowl)
the 2010 team I think went 0-4 in preseason (made NFC championship game/ruined Desmond Clark/lost)

I don't think this is the barometer we're looking for. Bears need to find a way to actually win games against division rivals again. if they're not capable of that then they're just going to be one and done Nagy level garbage.

You are correct sir...Bears went 1-3 in the '85 exhibition season. They trounced Buffalo in the last pre-season game, if I remember correctly. That preseason was like this preseason, mainly building the depth of the team. We all know who da starters will be.

 

[Aquineas]

You are correct sir...Bears went 1-3 in the '85 exhibition season. They trounced Buffalo in the last pre-season game, if I remember correctly. That preseason was like this preseason, mainly building the depth of the team. We all know who da starters will be.

They went on to barely beat Tampa Bay in that first game. The Bears didn't pull ahead until deep in the 3rd quarter.

 

[UChiLAbear]

They went on to barely beat Tampa Bay in that first game. The Bears didn't pull ahead until deep in the 3rd quarter.

28-10 TB at one point if I remember correctly. Yeah, I remember being in shock! Going into the season thinking SB and out of the gate da Bears were getting pushed around. But from that point on thru the rest of the season they woke the f up. Bears scored the final 4 TDs to make it 38-28.

 

[Salvaged Ship]

I drank the kool aid and predicted 11 wins, one playoff win, and Caleb ROY. Sick of being pessimistic, sick of being right about it. Trying a different approach of all in this year, had enough of losing

 

[UChiLAbear]

I drank the kool aid and predicted 11 wins, one playoff win, and Caleb ROY. Sick of being pessimistic, sick of being right about it. Trying a different approach of all in this year, had enough of losing

I'm calling 11 wins too....call me crazy...wait...I am crazy. As a matter of fact, I asked my psychiatrist during my last session when he thought I would be over my mental problems and he told me..."when I ran out of money."

 

[Washington]

I'll be the party pooper. I still have them at 8-9 wins. I am not a fan of the OL at all and the DL is weak too. One more FA period and draft and hopefully Poles will have addressed the trenches better. I am stoked to watch CW this season. I am praying CHI finally has an NFL caliber QB.

 

[hebs]

the 1985 team I think went 1-3 in preseason (won Super Bowl)
the 2010 team I think went 0-4 in preseason (made NFC championship game/ruined Desmond Clark/lost)

I don't think this is the barometer we're looking for. Bears need to find a way to actually win games against division rivals again. if they're not capable of that then they're just going to be one and done Nagy level garbage.

The article was referencing the point differential as the statistic that stood out. Not the wins/losses.

I know it’s a fluff piece. I just posted it because we’re gonna be twiddling our thumbs for the next 2 weeks waiting for the games to start.

 

[Hawkeye OG]

Let’s try and just enjoy the fact that the Bears have a future with a lot of good talent for once. I’m not going to expect playoffs, although that’d be great. How about we start with some meaningful December games?