Opposing bears for 2025 mean more trouble

The Bears finished last in the NFC North for the third straight year under GM Ryan Poles, who was hired by George McCaskey and Bill Polian.

It’s their seventh last-place finish in the last 11 years, all coming since McCaskey let head coach Lovie Smith get fired after a 10-6 season in 2012. They’ve had two winning seasons since McCaskey became the imposed on them. Halas Hall in 2011 and they fired the head coach after one of them.

They will have a new head coach next season and the Poles have promised when he comes on board to “take the North and not give it back”.

Getting out of last place would be good for now. That’s probably why his name is being brought up more and more someone whose job might be in jeopardyregardless of some of his more positive moves.

As a result of the Bears being record wise, they get the last place schedule.

Most of the schedule is known when they launch in 2025, coming off a fourth straight last-place finish in the NFC North and eight in 12 years.

BEARS AGAINST MINNESOTA A MORE COORDINATED EFFORT

The problem with being in last place in the best division in football is that the schedule is tough no matter how you slice it.

Home games

Giants

Cowboys

brown

Steelers

packers

lions

Vikings

panthers*

Road games

At the Ravens

At the Bengals

At the Eagles

To the Commanders

At the Packers

At the Lions

To the Vikings

At the 49ers**

*The Panthers are two games out of last place in the division and play the Bears for last place

**The 49ers have a half-game lead over the Cardinals in the division for last and play for last place with the Bears

Week 15 NFC North On SI Standings

1. Lions, 2. Vikings, 3. Packers, 4. BEARS

Green Bay Packers

Bill Huber, Green Bay Packers On SI

This week: At Seahawks (Sunday 7:20 p.m.)

Most Influential Defensive Player: Last season, Green Bay’s starting safeties had zero interceptions and the team finished with seven. Xavier McKinney, who was signed away from the Giants in free agency, has seven by himself. He played excellent overall coverage, tackled well and led the pack. It’s hard to say a player can be underpaid on a four-year, $67 million contract. So let’s just say McKinney was worth every penny.

Keys to victory: The Packers have two big advantages over the surging Seahawks. On paper, anyway. One, he runs the football. Josh Jacobs is third in the NFL in receiving and has scored seven times in his last three games. He will be going against one of the weakest run defenses in the NFL. Success running the football will give the Packers more plays; they had 30 fewer snaps than the Lions last week. Second are turnovers. The Packers have the third most giveaways and the Seahawks have the ninth. Green Bay is #1 in the NFL in converting takeaways into points. If the Packers can capitalize on those advantages, they will have their 10th win and be on the brink of the playoffs.

Detroit Lions

John Maakaron, Detroit Lions On SI

This week: Bills at home (Sunday 3.25pm)

Most Influential Player in Attack: The Lions have plenty of weapons that give them flexibility in attack. They won games despite quiet games from Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams at different times this year. As a result, the most impactful player is the guy who gets everyone the ball, quarterback Jared Goff. The Lions are at their best when he’s in a groove, and while he doesn’t have to play at the level he did in October all the time, Goff is the player the Lions can’t afford to lose.

Keys to victory: Leos need to generate money for the package. They went two straight games without one and managed to win regardless. However, the one takeaway they got against Green Bay completely turned the tide of the game. With all the injuries on defense, the Lions could be in danger of being saddled with a trio of defensive linemen unsure of how to play. As a result, getting takeaways will make life easier defensively as well as generate momentum on offense.

Minnesota Vikings

Joe Nelson, Minnesota Vikings On SI

This week: Bears at home (19:00 Monday)

Most Influential Defensive Player: Jonathan Greenard. I’ve argued before that Blake Cashman is the linchpin of the defense’s overall success, but Greenard’s impact can’t be ignored. He adds pressure at an all-pro level and the amount of times he made life difficult for quarterbacks made Vikings fans forget about Danielle Hunter. Heck, Greenard might play the best defensive end in Minnesota since Jared Allen had horns on his helmet.

Keys to victory: Noise. US Bank Stadium will be rocking Monday night and will likely be the loudest environment Caleb Williams has played in as a professional. If the fans can make it deafening for Williams, the rookie could be thrown off his game and prone to making mistakes. As big as the noise factor is, keeping it in your pocket will be just as important. Williams played from the pocket when these two clubs met at Soldier Field, and that’s when he made the Vikings pay.

Chicago Bears

Gene Chamberlain, Chicago Bears On SI

This week: La Vikingi (19:00 Monday)

Most Influential Defensive Player: CB Jaylon Johnson. While everyone on defense shut down and injuries set in, their Pro Bowl cornerback at least gave them a chance to take a weapon away from opponents. He was critical in holding Justin Jefferson to two catches in Minnesota’s first game at Chicago. Like everyone else on the defense, Johnson’s productivity has dipped, but it’s still at a high enough level to challenge opposing receivers.

Keys to victory: Proving they didn’t mail it this year it is a key. After the performance in San Francisco, Thomas Brown’s candidacy for the head coaching job should be viewed with skepticism. Is there any pride left in the locker room to get them through an apparent four-game lame duck situation? The short passing game is critical against Minnesota because what they’ve really lacked is a running game as D’Andre Swift has failed to hit 60 yards five of the last six games.

Twitter: BearsOnSI