There are four games remaining. And while the playoff dreams have faded there is still plenty for Bears fans to watch over this final month of games.

Chase for .500

An argument could be made there’s no difference between finishing 6-10 or 8-8, if the result means missing out on the postseason. But that argument won’t be made here.

8-8 is something. It’s a valuable season. It’s a foundation on which to build a successful program. John Fox can walk into the offseason program and say, “We won eight last year. All we have to do is win two more and we are in the tournament.” And with their schedule including the NFC East and AFC South, two more wins can be expected.

Also, winning three more games than a year ago is substantial improvement (as if that weren’t evident already). Three games are nearly 19% of an NFL season. Fans should embrace The Quest For .500.

Solidifying the Offensive Line

Three of the final four games are outside in the cold. What does that mean? It’s time to find out if the Bears have the kind of offensive line that can boss an opponent in the run game. They showed signs of doing just that against San Francisco.

Four of the five linemen are projected starters in 2016. Only right guard, currently occupied by Patrick Omameh, is possibly up for grabs. Will be interesting to see how they develop as a group down the stretch.

The Young Defenders

Adrian Amos and Eddie Goldman will be starters for the 2016 Bears. But the performances of players like McClellin, Prosinski, Callahan, Unrein and Gaston will greatly influence the offseason agenda for Ryan Pace. Bears definitely need more defensive talent. The difficult part will be prioritizing that need.

Is Robbie Still Robbie?

Robbie Gould has started missing more game-winning kicks than he makes. And the San Francisco game featured the debut of his new maneuver familiar to all of us who enjoy the game of golf: the duck hook. When kickers lose it, they lose it quickly. It’s not a slow fade. Here’s hoping Robbie has not lost it but the Bears will be paying close attention over the next month.

Kevin White

Will White see the field this year? It sure sounds like the number one pick is desperate to get on the field and show Bears fans what they can expect from him in 2016 and beyond.