The Chicago Bears have a path to an early-season surge, and it starts with the kind of offensive upside that can cover for a defense still finding its footing.
That was the case made on a recent FS1 First Things First segment, where Danny Parkins backed Chicago to start fast even with Dennis Allen’s new-look defense expected to need some time. The idea is simple enough: the Bears may spend the opening stretch sorting out pieces on defense, but the offense has enough firepower to keep them winning while that process plays out.
The schedule helps make that argument look even stronger. Chicago opens the regular season against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Jets. At the very least, that looks like a 3-1 start, and Parkins pointed to the Bears having the talent to beat Philadelphia even in what would still be a tough matchup.
That kind of optimism is rooted in what Chicago expects from its young core, especially the leap Caleb Williams could make. The Bears have the pieces to be better than they were a year ago, and the roster has been built with a Super Bowl run in mind later in the season. Early on, though, the offense may have to carry more of the load while Allen figures out which combinations on defense can be trusted.
Parkins’ view also lines up with the broader sense that Chicago has one of the league’s most explosive offensive ceilings. That’s part of why the Bears are seen as a team capable of challenging the Los Angeles Rams, who enter 2026 as heavy NFC favorites.
So the question isn’t really whether Chicago has enough talent to make noise. It’s how quickly that talent shows up once the season begins. Whether the Bears come out swinging or hold some of their best punch for the tougher stretch later on, the expectation is the same: this team should get off to a hot start.
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