Heading into the season, I don’t think anyone outside of the Bears organuzation had the Bears winning 11regular season games. 7-9 wins was the prevailing yet optimistic range for a team coming off 5-12 season, but a 0-2 start caused some to rethink their positions. As they started to stack up wins, their confidence grew and fans recalibrated their expectations and projections. Aside from winning more, people saw improvement and liked what they heard from new head coach, Ben Johnson. Fans and some in the local media started drawing comparisons with the 2015 Cubs who also arrived a season or two ahead of schedule.

That’s when the jostling between fans began and that’s when things started sounding like the Cubs 2025 season. Again, this isn’t a Cubs-Bears thing or even a Chicago thing, it’s merely playing out again in Chicago. Some fans and sportswriters don’t believe in nuanced fandom. You have to be all in on your team or you are a hater or doubter and relinquish your rights to cheer on a team. Conversely, some fans are merely contrarians or negative Nelly’s and can rarely back up their doubts.

It’s hard not to look back at that wonderful ’15 Cubs team and not consider the ’16 World Series without the latter, the former wouldn’t matter. And if the ’25 Bears fall short of the Super Bowl, there is no logical reason to assume they will rebound and win the Super Bowl next season.

Since the Bears loss to the Lions and they won the NFC Central, I’ve spoken to several Bears fans who a) believe the better team won Sunday (Detroit) b) think the Packers should be favorites in Saturday night’s playoff game with the Bears. Neither view is popular among the larger Bear fandom but would be hard to deny given the facts.

Back to those 2015 Cubs. They were one of three NL Central teams to make the playoffs and were not expected to play in the NLCS. They did what the Bears haven’t done yet-beat their hated rival at their own game. Those Cubs upset the ballyhooed Cardinals on their way to the NLCS. The Cardinal Way was something that had bamboozled the Cubs since the 1960’s. Heading into the NLCS against the Mets, expectations had changed (for the better) because they had swept the season series with New York (7-0) and they had just whomped on St. Louis. It wasn’t until the Cubs won it all the following season, that fans and the media took a look at the bigger picture seeing the entire 2015 season as a first step on the road to a World Series victory. It also marked the opening of the window-that every front office speaks of.

When I left Wrigley Field after the Cubs got swept by the Mets, I wasn’t thinking about a bright future. I was really honked off by a wasted opportunity and a lousy ending to a season. It wasn’t until I saw the Cubs play the WS Champion Royals in spring training that I considered the possibilities.

Despite real growth in general and promising rookie seasons from the Class of ’25, I think if the Bears can’t get past the Packers this weekend, many will feel this season was a disappointment. Optimists will point to the six come from behind victories and the NFC Central title while others will point out the 2-4 record against the division and inconsistencies as signs of failure. In the grand scheme of things, these are fun arguments and there is room for disagreement among good fans.

Regardless of how the season ends, I hope the rookies’ careers aren’t at their crescendo, but rather are trending upwards. As I type this, I know some will call me a doubter rather than a realist.