Conor Orr· Aug 5, 2026
In his annual game-by-game predictions for the 2026 NFL season, Orr projected the Bears to finish 10-7 and miss the playoffs, while expecting an MVP-caliber season from Caleb Williams.
“An MVP-caliber campaign from Caleb Williams, plus a crusade against Ryan Poles to improve the defense next offseason, feels like a very comfortable and safe landing spot.”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
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Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room.
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Chicago Bears · 2026 season · wins21 calls from 16 pundits between 3 wins and 12 wins. Conor Orr said 10 wins. the room's median is 10 wins. not settled yet
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- Season Win TotalsChicago BearsAug 5, 2026
Chicago Bears to finish with 10 wins
“Connor Orr predicted all 272 games of the 2026 NFL season, his annual tradition for Sports Illustrated, and he had the Bears finishing with a 10-7 record.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Mike MoraitisDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0Moraitis writes that although Braxton Jones has looked like the favorite, Ozzy Trapilo is likely to take over as the Bears' starting left tackle once he's healthy enough to play.
- Pete MartuneacDepth Chart Calls · Ozzy TrapiloMiss · 0After Trapilo's activation from the PUP list roughly seven months after rupturing his patellar tendon, Martuneac says the Bears' left tackle competition is over and Trapilo will be starting at left tackle early in the 2026 season, even if not by Week 1.
- Eric CohenGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Cohen says the Bears win easily in Carolina, and that Tennessee starts 1-0 over a Jets team he considers the third-worst in the league.
- Gene ChamberlainScore Predictions · Chicago BearsClose · 57Chamberlain picks the Bears to beat the Panthers in Week 1 at Charlotte, 34-30, giving Chicago the edge in the run game, passing game, pass defense and coaching.
- Danny ParkinsGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Parkins picked the Giants to upset Dallas, the Steelers to beat Atlanta by two scores, the Bears to beat Carolina, the Bills to beat Houston and Denver to beat Kansas City outright; he also said Justin Herbert will win an MVP and had the Bengals as AFC North champs.
- Kirk HerbstreitGame Outcome Picks · Chicago BearsHit · 100Herbstreit made a full slate of Week 1 picks — Lions, Ravens, Bears, Bills, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Eagles, Packers and Cowboys — and also said he still thinks Seattle is the team to beat in the NFC West.
More season win totals
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Chris BrockmanSeason Win Totals · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Brockman's overreaction slate: Breece Hall leaves the Jets and plays in the playoffs next season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the best receiver in the league, three quarterbacks (Mendoza first overall, plus Ty Simpson and Carson Beck) go in the first round, and the Patriots crater to a 7-10 season.
- Chris BrockmanSeason Win Totals · New England PatriotsMiss · 0Brockman argued Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already the best receiver in the NFL and deserves to be the highest paid, called his shot that three quarterbacks (Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Carson Beck) go in the first round with Mendoza first overall, and suggested New England is headed for a 7-10 season.
- JP AcostaSeason Win Totals · New York GiantsClose · 40Acosta expects John Harbaugh's Giants to jump to roughly seven wins in year one, and forecast several offseason moves: Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, Daniel Jones returning to the Colts, Kirk Cousins being released by Atlanta, and Brandon Aiyuk leaving San Francisco.
- Rich EisenSeason Win Totals · New Orleans SaintsClose · 40Eisen called the 49ers-as-NFC-favorites take an overreaction, picked the Jaguars to beat the Titans and win their division, leaned Ravens over the Steelers in the Week 18 Sunday night game, expects the Bills to beat the Jets even without Josh Allen, sees the Chargers as the AFC's seventh seed, agreed Tyler Shough could win Offensive Rookie of the Year with a good Saints 2026, said Malik Willis will be a starter somewhere next season, and insisted Detroit goes into 2026 with Goff.
- Chris BrockmanSeason Win Totals · New Orleans SaintsClose · 40Brockman floated the 49ers as the team to beat in the NFC after their Sunday night win, predicted James Cook would lead the league in rushing, and said Tyler Shough will win Rookie of the Year with the Saints finishing above .500 next season.
- Rich EisenSeason Win Totals · Jacksonville JaguarsClose · 40Rich Eisen gave his Week 15 top-10 power rankings, installing the Rams at No. 1 as the best team in football, adding the Jaguars and keeping the Bears despite their loss, while dropping the Cowboys and Eagles off the list. He also projected 10-win seasons for both Chicago and Jacksonville and said the Jaguars would handle the Jets at home.