Bears still good enough to make playoffs

The Bears aren't getting much respect on the national level, especially considering they were NFC North champions last season, finished 11-5 and lost in the NFC title game to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Green Bay Packers.

Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly all pick the Bears to finish out of the playoffs and third in the NFC North, behind the Packers and the Detroit Lions, this year's trendy postseason pick.

But it's difficult to see where the Bears have regressed since last season.

Their offensive line still is a work in progress, but with a veteran team and a stable coaching staff, the Bears figure to be hurt less by the absence of an off-season than most teams.

Here's a game-by-game look at how the season could unfold:

Sept. 11 vs. Atlanta: lossThe Bears' secondary gets its first of several early-season tests vs. QB Matt Ryan, who has three exceptional targets in Pro Bowl WR Roddy White, future Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez and rookie sensation WR Julio Jones. The addition of ex-Vikings DE Ray Edwards should make DE John Abraham even better.Sept. 18 at New Orleans: winThis will be interesting if for no other reason than the defensive line goes up against Saints C Olin Kreutz, who spent the past 12 seasons with the Bears.But the Saints will be without stud DE Will Smith, who will be serving the second of his two-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.Sept. 25 vs. Green Bay: lossSuper Bowl hangover or not, the Packers are stronger than they were when they won it all last season because they're healthier, with RB Ryan Grant and TE Jermichael Finley, among others, back at full strength.Oct. 2 vs. Carolina: winFormer Bears defensive coordinator and longtime linebacker Ron Rivera is running the show in Carolina, and he could be starting rookie QB Cam Newton. Panthers TE Greg Olsen will want to show Mike Martz what he's capable of in an offense that throws him the ball.Oct. 10 at Detroit: winA Monday nighter, the first of four prime-time games for the Bears, and a possible coming-out party in front of a national audience for the Lions.DT Ndamukong Suh and WR Calvin Johnson already are superstars and QB Matthew Stafford will be a great one if he stays healthy. But that's not enough.Oct. 16 vs. Minnesota: winA Sunday nighter and the second straight in prime time for the Bears. The Vikings are the worst team in the NFC North, and new-old QB Donovan McNabb will find out quickly what drove Brett Favre into retirement #8212; a lack of talent.Oct. 23 at Tampa Bay: lossA skip across the pond to London doesn't benefit either team, although it's technically a home game for the Bucs, who may have the best young talent in the NFL.Nov. 7 at Philadelphia: lossAfter a bye it's right back to national TV in a Monday nighter against the #8220;Dream Team.#8221; The Eagles appear loaded, and it seems only an inability to mesh all their superstars into a team would keep them out of the Super Bowl.Nov. 13 vs. Detroit: winThe Bears have won 10 of the last 12 meetings with the Lions going into this season. A victory at Soldier Field would be an indication that the up-and-coming Lions have arrived.Nov. 20 vs. San Diego: lossThe Chargers have owned the second half of the season in recent years, and on paper they still have one of the most talented teams in the NFL, even if they've never played up to their potential in the postseason.Nov. 27 at Oakland: winBecause new head coach Hue Jackson already was on the staff as offensive coordinator, the Raiders shouldn't have much trouble transitioning. But they lost their best players in CB Nnamdi Asomugha, TE Zach Miller and OG Robert Gallery. Dec. 4 vs. Kansas City: winFormer Bears WR coach Todd Haley's team had the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack, featuring Jamaal Charles and ex-Bear Thomas Jones. But Chiefs will be in the midst of a killer schedule. They travel here after back-to-back games vs. the Patriots and Steelers, then must face the Packers and Jets.Dec. 11 at Denver: winDenver was 4-12 last season, and the Broncos are in their first season under John Fox, who might get it turned around but not this year. Pass-rushing terrors Elvis Dumervil and rookie Von Miller could terrorize the Bears' young tackles.Dec. 18 vs. Seattle: winThe Seahawks won the NFC West last season #8212; with a 7-9 record. Then they replaced QB Matt Hasselbeck with Tarvaris Jackson, who was a bust in Minnesota. Jackson can run, which is good because he might be playing behind two rookie offensive linemen.Dec. 25 at Green Bay: lossThe last of the scheduled prime-time contests, this one on Sunday, a Christmas Night trip to the Great White North, which is no way to spend a holiday.Jan. 1 at Minnesota: winThe Bears might need this one to sneak into the postseason, and the Vikings figure to be playing out the string. Expect rookie QB Christian Ponder to have replaced Donovan McNabb.Final record: 10-6#376;Follow Bob's Bears reports via Twitter @BobLeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.