The 2015 NFL Season has official come to an end, with the Denver Broncos defeating the Carolina Panthers 24-10. Even though there are 211 days until the start of the 2016 NFL Season, the Bears will take what they learned from watching the two teams in Super Bowl 50 and begin to develop a winning formula for next season.

First Takeaway:

Defense wins Championships.

The last three teams that won the Super Bowl, the Seahawks, Patriots and Broncos all relied on their defense to make plays. Seattle’s defense completely destroyed the Broncos, the Patriots won on an interception at the end of the game and the Broncos number one defense (in yards) dominated the Panthers number one offense (in points). In Sunday’s Super Bowl, Cam Newton was pressured, hit and sacked through all four quarters. This threw the 2015 NFL MVP off his game and was a big reason the Broncos won.

The formula to having an elite defense starts with the front seven. Whether it was Von Miller, Demarcus Ware or Danny Trevathan, the Denver defense was getting after Newton. The Broncos front seven didn’t allow for routes to develop down field because there just wasn’t time for Newton to throw the ball. The Broncos’ defenders also did a great job of containing Newton and not allowing him to use his athleticism to make plays with his legs.

The Broncos’ secondary was also a huge deciding factor in the game. The corners and safeties were physical with the Panthers’ receivers and made it tough for the receiving unit to get open. Newton went 18 of 41 with 265 yards and had a QBR of 16.9.

How it relates to the Bears:

The Bears, believe it or not, have some players who can get to the quarterback. It all starts with Pernell McPhee, who showed he can be a pain to opposing offenses. McPhee had six sacks and one forced fumble last season. The other players who can get after the quarterback are Willie Young and Lamar Houston. Both put up some decent numbers last season, Young had six-and-a-half sacks and Houston had eight. The unit will continue to get better and hopefully in the offseason add a few more playmakers in the offseason. One player to keep your eye on is, Broncos’ linebacker Danny Trevathan.

The Bears will have to improve their secondary, despite being ranked fourth in the league in Net passing yards last season. Third-year man Kyle Fuller has been inconsistent so far in his young career and there is a question mark at the second safety position. Look for the Bears to make an upgrade in the secondary, to help fit that winning formula to be an elite defense.

Second Takeaway:

A healthy locker room is key to success.

Both the Broncos and Panthers had great team chemistry throughout the entire season. For the Broncos, it was the situation with benching Manning for Brock Osweiler. The 14-time Pro Bowler didn’t complain that he was being benched but helped Osweiler to succeed. Then when it was Manning’s time to return, Osweiler let Manning take control of the starting position, without any controversy. The Broncos had a team first mentality for the entire season.

The Panthers had the most fun out of any team. Whether the team was dabbing, giving footballs to kids, or joking on the sidelines, the Panthers were all in as a team. The Panthers had a stress free environment and with all the fun they were having, cruised their way to the Super Bowl. Yes, the outcome wasn’t what they wanted, but still the Panthers had a great season.

How it relates to the Bears:

Head coach John Fox is leading the Bears in the right direction. The Bears’ first-year head coach had control of the locker room, unlike former Bears’ head coach Marc Trestman. These Bears all had each other’s backs and stayed connected through the team’s losing season. Team chemistry may not seem like a big deal, but for a football team that will have ups and downs throughout the season, it is incredibly important. The Bears had a lot of heart-breaking losses and could have easily blown up on each other, but Fox has instilled toughness and perseverance into this group. The Bears will look to build on that team chemistry going into next season.

Third Takeaway:

You don’t need an elite quarterback to win, but one that can manage the game.

That is exactly what two-time Super Bowl Champion Peyton Manning did. He didn’t have great numbers, 13 of 23 for 141 yards, but he controlled the game. He made the throws that he was supposed to make and didn’t force anything. Manning only had one turnover, as opposed to Newton, who had three. Both quarterbacks had below average games, but the team with the better defense came out on top.

How it relates to the Bears:

The Bears don’t have an elite quarterback, but Jay Cutler can manage a game. Cutler managed to will his team to six wins last season, despite having to battle through injuries at every offensive position. Give Cutler some healthy receivers, a stable line and another year in the same offense and Cutler will have a better statistical season than last year. The 10-year veteran also has reduced his number of interceptions, with only 11. The Bears have the right man under center to get the job done, but it will only work if the defense continues to get better.