For the first time in many moons, the Chicago Bears' offense carried its defense during the 2013 season.
Running back Matt Forte believes the Bears' O can rise even further in its second season under coach Marc Trestman.
"If we keep working hard we're going to take this offense, hopefully, to the top of the league," Forte said, per the Chicago Tribune. "There's no ceiling. There's no limit that you can put on it."
The discussion regarding Brandon Marshall's and Alshon Jeffery's standing among the top receiving duos in the NFL has already been broached multiple times this offseason.
Where the Bears stand out from previous seasons is not just in Jeffery's emergence, but under Trestman, Chicago is more multiple in how it can beat a defense.
Forte is one of the most overlooked and underrated big-play running backs in the NFL. His diversity in the run and pass game gives Trestman flexibility.
Another player those within the Bears organization are keeping a close eye on is 6-foot-3, second-year receiver Marquess Wilson. The 21-year-old worked out with Jeffery and Marshall this offseason, adding bulk and immersing himself in the playbook.
"Sky's the limit for him," Jeffery said of Wilson. "We can't wait to see what he's got."
If Wilson wins the No. 3 receiver gig, the Bears could employ a passing attack with some serious size: 6-foot-4 Marshall, 6-foot-3 Jeffery, 6-foot-3 Wilson and 6-foot-6 tight end Martellus Bennett.
The keystone to the Bears' offensive ceiling remains Jay Cutler at quarterback. While Josh McCown outplayed him for good portions of 2013, it can't be forgotten that until his injuries, Cutler was being heavily praised for his early season renaissance under Trestman.
To overtake the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, the Bears will need a better defense than the sieve they had in 2013. However, a ceiling-less offense -- as Forte described it -- would again mask some of those defensive deficiencies in 2014.
*The latest "Around The League Podcast" picks the best receiver group in the NFL, and goes deep previewing the season with Bucky Brooks. *
