Silver Lining: Bears still in the mix in NFC North despite Week 2 loss

The Chicago Bears have been pretty terrible to start the 2023 NFL season. There’s no denying that. Now 0-2, it feels like there’s no hope left in a season that began with optimism and excitement for Bears fans.

Sure, losing the first two games (and 12 in a row dating back to 2023) is gross. Bears fans are used to it, though. A fan base that’s fresh off of the No. 1 overall pick (that was eventually traded to the Carolina Panthers) is pretty numb to losing games.

It’s a shame, but it’s true.

Fear not, Bears fans. After two games, there is at least one silver lining in the Chicago Bears’ season. They’re only one game back in the NFC North. The entire division lost on Sunday, too.

The Green Bay Packers fell to the Atlanta Falcons, and the Detroit Lions lost to the Seattle Seahawks. Had either of those teams moved to 2-0, the division’s landscape would’ve felt a lot different.

The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.

The Bears will probably lose to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3. Stranger things than a Chicago Bears upset victory have happened before, but it’s unlikely with how coach Matt Eberflus has this team playing. Normally, starting a season 0-3 is the proverbial nail in the playoffs coffin, but, at worst, the Bears will only be two games back in the NFC North entering Week 4.

Some more good news? The Bears have four winnable games from Weeks 4 through 7: Denver Broncos (Week 4), Washington Commanders (Week 5), Minnesota Vikings (Week 6), and Las Vegas Raiders (Week 7).

While I don’t think the Bears will suddenly rip off a four-game winning streak, the 2023 season is far from over, assuming they continue making at least minor improvements week over week.

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