Adam L. Jahns: Analyzing the Bears at the break

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Bears coach John Fox and QB Jay Cutler. (AP)

The Bears’ bye falls exactly eight games into the season, the perfect time for the Sun-Times’ experts — Adam L. Jahns, Patrick Finley and Mark Potash — to examine the highs and lows of their 2-6 performance and predict what will happen in the next eight contests.

Here is Adam L. Jahns’ outlook:

I’m impressed by: Rookie running back Jordan Howard. It starts with his patience and vision. But he has that immeasurable tough-to-tackle quality that Chicago loves, too. He doesn’t have game-changing speed. It’s why he lasted until the fifth round. But Howard is fast enough to make a difference every week.

I’m concerned about: The lack of big plays in the secondary. Injuries have been a deterrent. Bryce Callahan has a knack for finding the ball, but he can’t stay on the field. Second-year free safety Adrian Amos is one to watch. His coaches say he needs to make big plays. They haven’t come yet.

They can turn their season around if: The Cubs can win the World Series. Oh, wait. Nevermind. (How amazing was that Game 7?) Anything is possible, but luck is an indeterminable factor that oftentimes is needed. It starts with staying healthy and involves what’s happening on the opposite sideline. I’m just not sure that the Bears — how does the saying go? — will ever be healthy enough to make their own luck.

Jay Cutler will: Be a star over the next eight games. He has his future to play for, whether it’s here or elsewhere. Cutler-esque mistakes will happen. Still, he has a rapport with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. It’ll turn into efficient, but also big games from Cutler. It also helps that Cutler will be facing some average to downright awful pass defenses in the next several weeks.

John Fox has: Time. It starts with the next eight weeks, but it also should include next season. No one said that this was going to be a quick fix. Fox might say their close, but in reality, the Bears are a thin team in need of more difference-makers. Everywhere. Next season will define Fox’s time in Chicago. Or end it.

Second-half record: 5-3. A 7-9 final record would be very Lovie-like, but the Bears have a proud group of productive veterans who are determined to win — top-10 draft picks be damned. Young players, such as Amos, Howard, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, center Cody Whitehair and receiver Cameron Meredith, are getting better, too. It also helps to have a favorable second-half schedule.

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