ICYMI: Bears Vs Bengals Q&A with Bear Goggles On

Dec 9, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears helmet against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Bears 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

It’s never too early to start scouting the 2013 opponents for the Cincinnati Bengals, and we were fortunate enough to get a Q&A with Mike Praser, the lead editor of Bear Goggles On, in order to get a good idea of what the Bengals should expect in Week 1 when they head to Chicago for their first game of the 2013 NFL season.

1. What were the biggest moves the Bears made this offseason, both good and bad, that will affect their team the most?

The biggest moves would have to be the free agent signings of  Tight End Martellus Bennett and Left Tackle Jermon Bushrod. If Phil Emery gets fired tomorrow as General Manager of the Bears, it won’t be for not addressing the needs of the football team through free agency.  Bennett gives an immediate upgrade at the Tight End position as a complete Tight End. He is not only an effective blocker, but he can stretch the field as a receiver as well. Jermon Bushrod is the upgrade at Left Tackle that the Bears desperately needed. They could have signed me to be Left Tackle and it would have been an upgrade. The Bears may have overpaid a little, but that is what happens when you can’t grow your own players from the draft.

The Bears also bolstered their offensive line by drafting Kyle Long in the first round of the draft. I know that Bengals fans were excited about this because the Bears were projected to take Tyler Eifert with their pick, but with the signing of Martellus Bennett and their pressing needs for offensive lineman, the Bears reached a little and took Kyle Long.

The worst move that the Bears made was letting Brian Urlacher walk. I know that he is not the player that he once was, but the Bears could have at least tried a little harder to keep the face of the franchise with their club. Obviously there weren’t any other teams that were interested in Urlacher, but it was just sad to see him go like that. Now that he has retired, it doesn’t sting as much, but he was the leader of their defense. Someone else will now have to step up and fill his role.

2. The Bengals defeated the Bears in Chicago in an early season matchup in 2005, and both teams ended up having great seasons and made the playoffs. Do you foresee the same in 2013?

Let’s not forget 2009 when the Bears lost to the Bengals in Cincinnati 45-10. I know I haven’t.

I do believe that both the Bears and Bengals will make the playoffs next year. Maybe a Bears Bengals Super Bowl? That would be fun.