For all the criticism Jay Cutler has taken since he came to the Bears, 2015 didn’t feel like a disaster.
Although no city builds statues for quarterbacks who throw for 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, lowering expectations helps soften the blow when the Bears finish 6-10 and last in the NFC North. (Sorry for reopening that wound.)
In other words, while he didn’t save the season, he didn’t set it on fire, either. Which sets him up perfectly for a bounce-back year!
The Bears, like every other team in the NFL, have the league’s unpredictability working for them. Maybe. Sometimes parity really is a b-word, like when the Bears went from the Super Bowl in 2006 to missing the playoffs the next year.
Yet climbing back into the postseason—never mind building a dynasty at this point—should be just what Chicago fans need right now.
So to give Bears fans hope entering 2016, look to these Chicago sports siblings for inspiration.
2010-11 Bulls
Like Bears coach John Fox, Tom Thibodeau took over for a coach in Vinny Del Negro who never seemed like he had the train on the tracks. Even with a couple of playoff appearances to his credit.
Things were much different under Thibs, who like Fox is about defense, defense, defense. The Bulls’ result in 2010-11? A trip to the Eastern Conference finals in Thibodeau’s first year on the job.
This year’s Bears even have a Derrick Rose “Why can’t I be MVP?” moment, courtesy of ex-Bear Brandon Marshall.
“I’ll got out on a limb and say this again,” the Jets receiver said in August on ESPN’s “First Take.” “I truly believe if Alshon Jeffery stays healthy, and then you have Kevin White, if this rookie can come in and catch 55-plus balls, Jay Cutler can be MVP this year. I truly believe that.”
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2015 Cubs
Slowly but surely, Theo Epstein and his staff gutted and have rebuilt the Cubs roster. Combined with his reputation for breaking the “curse” in Boston, Chicago fans crossed their fingers that it was just a matter of time before the page was turned on a new century.
Still, even with Epstein’s track record, the Cubs’ 2015 success felt ahead of schedule. Going from 73-89 and last place in your division to 97-65 and four wins from the World Series is simply mind-boggling.
It took a Cy Young season from Jake Arrieta out of nowhere, a Rookie of the Year performance from Kris Bryant (less out of nowhere), some Joe Maddon managerial magic and a few other pieces to fall into place, but oh was it sweet.
The John Fox-Joe Maddon comparison is apt, as both have distinct leadership styles and are proven winners. Now, can Pace, who is just a few years younger than Epstein, be the next football genius?
2005 White Sox
This is the most optimistic scenario for this year’s Bears, by far. Cubs fans might be tired of hearing of the city’s only World Series championship since 1917 belonging to the South Side, but fans of the South Siders definitely aren’t.
The Sox were a respectable 83-79 in 2004, yet there were serious question marks on the pitching staff and quite a bit of turnover in the lineup. Those kinds of things don’t matter, however, when most of your starting pitchers have career years at the same time and your offense is as opportunistic as it gets.
When you have everyone maxing out their potential at once, you’ve got yourself an October to remember. To ballpark it, the Bears equivalent would be something like …
Jay Cutler throwing for 30 touchdowns and fewer than 12 interceptions.
Jeremy Langford rushing for 1,200 yards.
Two Bears pass rushers—say, Willie Young and Akiem Hicks—combining for 20 sacks.
Linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman each recording more than 100 tackles.
Hold on to these good vibes as long as you can, Bears fans. Even if they’re squandered by Monday, basketball and hockey are around the corner.