With as much optimism as the Bears have built this offseason, they haven’t won anything yet in 2018. Fans have plenty of reason to be excited, but the team still has to prove itself on Sundays before national respect will follow.
So when ESPN’s analytics team runs its models for the upcoming season, it’s no surprise that Chicago isn’t well liked.
Their “Football Power Index” tries to predict games based on expected points per play, and the analytics don’t favor the Bears this season.
ESPN’s FPI has them favored in only four games this season, all at home versus the Seahawks, Buccaneers, Jets and Lions.