The Chicago Bears are looking to repeat their success in winning the NFC North. The last time the Bears made the playoffs in back-to-back years? 20 years ago: the 2005 and 2006 seasons, when they made their last Super Bowl appearance. Will the Chicago Bears break the streak?
Contributors Cooper Smith and Cooper Newmark will put that debate to the test.
Yes
By Cooper Newmark
The Chicago Bears are unquestionably a playoff team. Following a 59-37 thumping of the Panthers, my thoughts on this team remain unchanged.
This offense is in the upper echelon of teams in the NFL. Teams with strong offenses are the ones that make the playoffs. Often, those teams don’t have elite defenses, which the Bears don’t have. Such teams with electric offenses and shaky defenses are the 2016 Falcons, powered by the MVP Matt Ryan, the 2018 Chiefs led by MVP Patrick Mahomes and the 2018 Rams.
More recent examples have happened. What makes these teams important is that they all had an MVP-caliber quarterback. Following Caleb Williams’ four-touchdown season opener, he looks like he could be the next to etch his name into that category.
With playmakers galore, the Bears offense is not something to be concerned about. Their defense, however, tells a different story.
During the 2025-26 season, the Bears ranked 29th in total defense, but they made the playoffs and won the division. With a defense that cannot get much worse, an improved Caleb Williams, a more well-rounded offense and a fired-up crowd rallying around them, the Chicago Bears will have playoff football once again.
No
By Cooper Smith
You can call me a hater, or you can call me crazy. I just don’t think this Bears team is better than last year. Earlier in the week, they took down the Carolina Panthers 59-37. But I don’t think this proves anything.
The secondary still isn’t that great, and I feel like you’re putting a lot of pressure on these skill players to make that leap. Examples are Luther Burden, Kyle Monangai, Rome Odunze, etc.
Another point about the defense is that they relied heavily on turnovers last year to get the stops they needed to win games. I think with the defense they have, they won’t be able to do that, and that will bite them later in the season than most people think.
The Bears are also in a very competitive NFC North division. People forget the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings exist and might outduel them in those need-to-win conference games.
The Bears are just a football team I don’t know if I can fully trust. Do I think they can be good? Yeah, but it’s more of a what-if than anything. Simply put – don’t be shocked if the Bears are not in the playoffs come January.
