Of the 11 NFL teams that are currently 2-1, NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt thinks that the Bears have the second-best chance of making the playoffs.
"Khalil Mack and the D will keep them squarely in the NFC North race," Brandt wrote. "It's hard to imagine a trade that cost you two first-round picks being a candidate for deal of the century, but that's what the Mack acquisition is looking like so far.
"The early Defensive Player of the Year contender is fronting a strong defense that ranks first in the NFL in sacks (14), second against the run and fifth overall. Mack and company look ready to carry Chicago while the overhauled offense finds itself and Mitchell Trubisky (who, don't forget, had just 13 college starts under his belt when he entered the NFL) continues gathering the experience he needs to develop.
"The NFC North is anybody's division, and in such a closely packed race, the team with the best defense has a good chance to claim the crown. Even if the Bears are edged out there, I like them as a wild-card team."
The only 2-1 team that Brandt thinks has a better chance to make the playoffs than the Bears is the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles.
