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The Chicago Bears' offseason provided a healthy dose of optimism. Surely, the Bears resembled a 9-7 team with free-agent additions Danny Trevathan, Jerrell Freeman and Akiem Hicks, plus projected draft contributors Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair, Jonathan Bullard and Deon Bush. Then camp began and everyone got hurt. There are real questions, at this point, if the Bears can keep anyone healthy. So l lowered my projected record to 7-9. Preseason football is generally not an indicator of regular-season success. But it’s hard to overlook the lack of depth on the 2016 Bears. Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 11 at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET J.J. Watt is a problem. Back injury or no back injury, Watt is a bad matchup for the Bears. Houston’s offensive line is a mess, too, but can the Bears make them pay? Record: 0-1 Week 2: Monday, Sept. 19 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 p.m. ET Jay Cutler vs. Sam Bradford-less Philly? I’ll take Cutler. Record: 1-1 Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25 at Dallas Cowboys, 8:30 p.m. ET Short week against an NFC East contender. Rookie Ezekiel Elliott is the real deal. And how do the Bears stop Dez Bryant? Record: 1-2 Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2 vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET Calvin Johnson is a game-changer. But he retired. Record: 2-2 Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9 at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET Too bad the game is in Indy. The Bears can beat the Colts at Soldier Field. But I’ll take Andrew Luck at home. Record: 2-3 Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley is making his last stand. I like Bradley, but the Jags usually lose. Record: 3-3. Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 20 at Green Bay Packers, 8:25 p.m. ET The Bears' victory at Lambeau Field ruined Thanksgiving for the entire state of Wisconsin last year. The Packers want payback. Record: 3-4 Week 8: Monday, Oct. 31 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 8:30 p.m. ET The Bears have a lot of extra time to prepare for Minnesota. This would be a terrible loss for Chicago, especially in light of Teddy Bridgewater's season-ending injury. So I’ll give a slight edge to the Bears because of timing. Record: 4-4 Week 9: Bye Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET Lovie Smith is torn? Whom does he root for? My guess: the Bears -- if they control the clock and limit the damage Jameis Winston can inflict. Record: 5-4 Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20 at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET The Giants are much better in 2016. Tough to envision the Bears winning back-to-back games on the road. Record: 5-5 Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27 vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET Tennessee still has a long way to go toward respectability. Marcus Mariota puts on a show, but the Bears pull out the victory. Record: 6-5 Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m. ET 49ers coach Chip Kelly wishes Marc Trestman still coached the Bears. No way the Bears let San Francisco beat them two straight years at home. Record: 7-5 Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET Let me repeat: There is just something weird about Ford Field. The Bears have not won there since 2012. Record: 7-6 Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 18 vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. ET Green Bay smells blood in the water. The Bears' faint playoff chances look bleak after this one. Record: 7-7 Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24 vs. Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. ET Merry Christmas. Josh Norman shuts down the Bears' passing attack. Kirk Cousins earns that franchise-tag money. But at least the Bears are home for the holidays. Record: 7-8 Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1 at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. ET The Bears rarely won in the Metrodome. Things get off to a bad start in the Vikings' new stadium. Expect Minnesota to play hard even without its starting quarterback. Record: 7-9
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