ESPN analyst says Bears will win NFC North, Justin Fields in MVP conversation

The 2023 NFL preseason is just about over. It concludes this weekend, and once the final snap of the exhibition schedule is taken, attention will focus on regular season predictions.

Division winners, MVP candidates, and of course, who will win the Super Bowl.

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio is already off and running with his 2023 NFL predictions, and Bears fans are going to like it.

On a recent episode of “Get Up,” Paolantonio said the Chicago Bears will win the NFC North, and Justin Fields will be in the 2023 NFL MVP conversation.

“I am going with the Chicago Bears because I like what their new general manager has done in terms of the front seven,” Paolantonio said. “I like the way Justin Fields has developed into a dual-threat quarterback who can win from the pocket… I think he is in the MVP conversation.”

“Get Up” has been a Bears-friendly program this summer, dating back to when host Mike Greenberg said Justin Fields would be the NFL’s next superstar quarterback on Aug. 1.

“Justin Fields is going to be the next superstar quarterback in the NFL.”

—@Espngreeny pic.twitter.com/eYSXZaoUHu

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) August 1, 2023

Predictions and projections amount to nothing if the Chicago Bears don’t get off to a fast start in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers. A loss to Jordan Love will sound alarms throughout the Bears fan universe. It would be a worst-case scenario to begin 2023.

For now, optimism reigns supreme. Justin Fields is an MVP candidate. And the Bears are a vastly improved team, to the point where predicting an NFC North title isn’t far-fetched.