The Bears have been given the gift of the easiest schedule in the NFL (based on last year’s records), and our experts were intrepid enough to spot that. The result: Not the kind of optimism you would expect. One prognosticator sees the potential doom and playoff doubt of a 9-7 campaign, while two brave souls forecast 11 wins. Eleven! Then again, the team went 11-5 last season.
SEPT. 10
@ Green Bay
3:15 p.m.
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: LOSE
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: LOSE
FRED MITCHELL: LOSE
TERRY BANNON: WIN
SEPT. 17
Detroit
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
SEPT. 24
@ Minnesota
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: LOSE
MIKE DOWNEY: LOSE
DON PIERSON: LOSE
K.C. JOHNSON: LOSE
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: LOSE
TERRY BANNON: LOSE
OCT. 1
Seattle
7:15 p.m.
RICK MORRISSEY: LOSE
MIKE DOWNEY: LOSE
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: LOSE
JOHN MULLIN: LOSE
FRED MITCHELL: LOSE
TERRY BANNON: LOSE
OCT. 8
Buffalo
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
OCT. 16
@ Arizona
7:30 p.m. Mon.
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: LOSE
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
BYE WEEK
OCT. 29
San Francisco
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
NOV. 5
Miami
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: LOSE
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: LOSE
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: LOSE
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: LOSE
NOV. 12
@ N.Y. Giants
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: LOSE
MIKE DOWNEY: LOSE
DON PIERSON: LOSE
K.C. JOHNSON: LOSE
JOHN MULLIN: LOSE
FRED MITCHELL: LOSE
TERRY BANNON: LOSE
NOV. 19
@ N.Y. Jets
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
NOV. 26
@ N. England
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: LOSE
MIKE DOWNEY: LOSE
DON PIERSON: LOSE
K.C. JOHNSON: LOSE
JOHN MULLIN: LOSE
FRED MITCHELL: LOSE
TERRY BANNON: LOSE
Dec. 3
Minnesota
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
Dec. 11
@ St. Louis
7:30 p.m. Mon.
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: LOSE
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: LOSE
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: LOSE
TERRY BANNON: WIN
Dec. 17
Tampa Bay
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: LOSE
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: WIN
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
Dec. 24
@ Detroit
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: LOSE
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: LOSE
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
DEC. 31
Green Bay
Noon
RICK MORRISSEY: WIN
MIKE DOWNEY: WIN
DON PIERSON: LOSE
K.C. JOHNSON: WIN
JOHN MULLIN: WIN
FRED MITCHELL: WIN
TERRY BANNON: WIN
RICK MORRISSEY: 10-6
With Bears finally having addressed their backup quarterback situation, there is huge comfort level going into season. Even if (or when) Rex Grossman gets hurt, Bears shouldn’t miss beat with Brian Griese.
MIKE DOWNEY: 10-6
OK, that stretch in November is brutal –maybe Bears should rent condo between New York and New England for month. Don’t take those home games with Bills and Dolphins for granted, either.
DON PIERSON: 10-6
Easier schedule than last year, with eight games against first-year head coaches and four games against playoff teams. A 10-6 record should win NFC North but will be disappointing unless they win in playoffs.
K.C. JOHNSON: 11-5
Addition of Brian Griese makes quarterback position more stable, and Ron Turner is ready to do some tricks with Rex Grossman. Add young, hungry and improving defense and it equals success.
JOHN MULLIN: 9-7
Bears have NFL’s easiest schedule based on ’05 records. But division will be tougher and Bears face four division winners.
FRED MITCHELL: 10-6
Sluggish start should keep Bears barely afloat until easier opponents in October. They will need to finish season with flourish to make playoffs, however, which means healthy Rex Grossman will be handy to have available.
TERRY BANNON: 11-5
Three straight road games to begin second half is bad break in otherwise soft schedule. If Bears can stay healthy for stretch run that follows they should be in good shape for second straight division title.
