There's been enough improvements made to the Chicago Bears' roster that they can be legitimate playoff contenders in 2025. The possibility of all four NFC North teams making the postseason has become a real thing. Overreaction?
ESPN NFL reporter Dan Graziano believes it is as he believes the Bears are the key to whether the whole NFC North will be represented in the postseason.
"Chicago's the key to making this happen, but it still seems a little bit too soon with its current roster. The Bears play 10 games against teams that made last season's playoffs, plus games against the Cowboys and Bengals, who should be improved. Tough schedule, tough division. And even if the Bears do break through this year, their success is likely to come at the expense of at least one of their division rivals."
Can Chicago defy the odds and get into the postseason for the first time in four years?
Optimism has never been higher in Chicago, as the Bears appear to have a solid roster in place. The offensive line and defensive line saw some massive retooling in the starting lineup, and the Bears added a lot of young talent through the NFL Draft (four selections within the first two rounds).
There are still some concerns to address with the Bears. Possibly the biggest one is how quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson will work together. Johnson has been coaching Williams extensively this offseason on improving his body language and reducing the time he holds onto the ball, which should yield positive results in 2025.
Depth at certain positions is another concern, particularly on defense. The defensive line and linebackers are lagging behind the starters. Specifically, the linebackers have Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards as the starters, with the rest lacking experience to the point where rookie fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II is projected to be the third starter.
Chicago shouldn't be the only team looked at for determining whether all four NFC North teams make it. The Minnesota Vikings have just as talented a roster as the Bears, but there are uncertain questions with quarterback J.J. McCarthy since he has never taken a regular-season snap. Some believe they could be the one team in the division not to make the playoffs over the Bears.
With that in mind, it's not as common to see turnarounds happen in just one year with a team, and that might be the case for the Bears. If the team can win seven to 10 games in 2025, that should be considered a successful season despite fans' hopes for the playoffs.
Read more:NFL reporter says what Bears fans might not want to hear (but should hear)
The possibility of the playoffs shouldn't be completely taken off the table, but it's better to be cautious about it.