Chicago Bears 2019 season preview: Can Mitchell Trubisky lead the Bears to Super Bowl?

The Chicago Bears are ranked No. 8 in ESPN's preseason Football Power Index. Here's everything you need to know about the Bears heading into the 2019 NFL season:

The big question: Can QB Mitchell Trubisky take his game to the next level?

Trubisky is the key to everything. The Bears have arguably the best defense in the league, but the offense struggled at times last year. Without any legitimate preseason playing time, it has been difficult to measure Trubisky's progress over the course of training camp. Is he elite? Is he average? Will he be any better than last season? It's time to find out. --Jeff Dickerson

Offseason in a nutshell

The Bears return the majority of their roster from last year's 12-4 team. The notable difference is at defensive coordinator, where Chuck Pagano replaces Vic Fangio, who's now the head coach in Denver. Will the Bears' highly touted defense regress under Pagano? Chicago will still run a 3-4, but there will be subtle differences with Pagano in charge, including more blitzing. That aggressive style could lead to even more impact plays by a defense that ranked at or near the top in virtually every statistical category last season, but it could also get burned on occasion, too. Pagano has bonded with the players but maintaining such a high level of excellence will not be easy. -- Dickerson

Inside the Bears' schedule

Most important game: The NFL opener at Soldier Field against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 5. First of all, it's against the Packers. Enough said. That Thursday night game is also an opportunity for Chicago to prove last year's surprise NFC North championship wasn't a fluke.

Toughest stretch: After the bye week, the Bears play consecutive games against the Saints, Chargers and Eagles. That stretch might define Chicago's season. The Bears also play the Rams on Nov. 17, but that matchup is sandwiched around winnable games against the Lions and Giants.

Over or under 8.8 wins? Over -- slightly. The Bears look like a 10-win team. Chicago won't have the luxury of sneaking up on anybody and their first-place schedule is tougher (on paper), but the Bears are loaded on defense. If they can stay healthy, there is no reason the Bears miss the playoffs. -- Dickerson

Schedule ranking: No. 3

The Bears have the league's toughest schedule by average projected DVOA of opponent. That's a huge change from 2018, when their schedule ranked 31st, and it's a big reason why we aren't projecting the Bears as the favorite in the NFC North. However, their adjusted schedule strength is a little easier because of a neutral-site London game against Oakland in Week 5. They also play only one game against a team coming off a bye or a Thursday game, and that's against the Giants in Week 12. On the other hand, the Bears get a much tougher schedule than the rest of the NFC North because we have the Saints and Rams as two of the league's top teams, far ahead of the NFC South/West opponents who will play the other NFC North squads. -- Football Outsiders | See the full 1-32 ranking

Breakout fantasy star: RB David Montgomery

The Bears selected Montgomery in the third round of April's draft, and the rookie figures to immediately step into a significant role alongside change-of-pace specialist Tarik Cohen. Montgomery isn't the fastest, but he's big, powerful and elusive. The Iowa State product evaded one tackle for every 5.1 touches last season (second best in this year's rookie class). Montgomery is a potential workhorse, and although he'll defer a lot of targets to Cohen, he could well push for 250 touches as a rookie. -- Mike Clay | More fantasy coverage

The view from Vegas

Super Bowl odds: 9-1 (opened 12-1)

Over/under: 9 (O -130/U +110)

Playoff odds: Yes -120, No +100

Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook as of Sept. 2

Most interesting player prop

Over or under 3,744.5 passing yards for Trubisky:

• Dickerson:Under. Trubisky passed for 3,223 yards in 14 starts last season. Given the way he scrambles outside the pocket, it's reasonable to assume he could suffer another injury (hopefully a minor one, for the Bears' sake) which would force him to miss time.Trubisky should be better by virtue of being in Nagy's system for a second-straight year, but 3,500 passing yards seems more appropriate.
• Clay: Over. Trubisky was on pace for 3,950 yards before last season's shoulder injury and was in an offense with the league's third-lowest expected pass rate.

Bold prediction: OLBKhalil Mackwill finish with at least 20 sacks

Mack is healthy, happy and completely engaged in Chicago's training camp. Remember, Mack arrived in Week 1 last year without any offseason or preseason work and still dominated. Mack appears ready to have the best season of his NFL career. -- Dickerson

Where the Bears landed in NFLRank

• No. 3: LB Khalil Mack
• No. 49: DT Akiem Hicks
• No. 63: S Eddie Jackson
• No. 81: CB Kyle Fuller
• No. 82: LB Roquan Smith

Speed reads before the opener

• Dickerson: Bears' offense in 'phenomenal' spot with Trubisky
• Power rankings: Bears debut at No. 7
• Purdum:Bears drawing most Super Bowl bets
• Yates: Bears should be back in the playoffs
• Dickerson: Can do-it-all Cordarrelle Patterson reach his potential?