LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Here's a look at the first half of the season for the Chicago Bears (2-6) and a preview of what to expect in the second half:

Grade D: The Bears woefully underperformed in the first half. With the exception of Chicago's impressive Week 8 victory over Minnesota, the offense failed in most key moments -- physically and mentally. Far too often the Bears settled for field goals, or committed costly pre-snap penalties that cost them games versus beatable teams. In general, the Bears were besieged by injuries, which no NFL team can use as an excuse. The sheer number of injuries since John Fox took over is alarming. The defense hung tough many weeks but still experienced several breakdowns. The victory over the Vikings on Monday night probably saved the season from completely going off the rails.

Midseason MVP: Rookie fifth-round pick Jordan Howard leads the team with 505 rushing yards on 99 carries (5.1 yards per carry). Howard has also caught 18 balls for 177 yards. A physical runner, Howard sparked the offense in Chicago's 20-10 win over the Vikings with 202 all-purpose yards. Not only is Howard tough, but he's fast, running for a 69-yard gain in the Minnesota game. The future looks bright for Howard, who supplanted Jeremy Langford as the lead rusher in Chicago's backfield.

Best moment: The Vikings game, no doubt. For the first time all year, the Bears played a complete 60-minute game. The defense throttled Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford, sacking him five times. On offense, Jay Cutler returned from a five-week thumb injury to complete 20 of 31 pass attempts for 252 yards and one touchdown. Cutler also got Alshon Jeffery going, as he receiver caught four balls for 63 yards and his first touchdown of the season. And Howard dominated on the ground with 153 rushing yards.

Worst moment: Losing to Jacksonville at home is never, ever, ever OK. The Bears held a 13-point fourth-quarter lead before the NFL's perennial bottom-feeder rallied to win 17-16 in front of a shocked and disgusted Soldier Field crowd. To add insult to injury, Tracy Porter actually fell down in coverage on Arrelious Benn's 51-yard game-winning touchdown. That was rock bottom for the Bears. You can't lose to Jacksonville and expect to be taken seriously. The Bears followed up that effort with a 26-10 defeat at Green Bay a couple of nights later on Thursday night football.

Player to watch: 2016 top pick Leonard Floyd. The ninth overall selection, Floyd has played well the past two weeks, combining for three sacks against Green Bay and Minnesota. The Bears need Floyd to be a dominant player. The rookie isn't there yet, but he definitely has made noticeable strides after an injury-plagued preseason. Floyd was also inactive in the losses to Indianapolis and Jacksonville, but he might have turned the corner. The Bears are hoping for a big second half from Floyd, who seems to be peaking at the right time.

Second-half outlook: The schedule is not difficult. After back-to-back road games (Tampa and New York) out of the bye, the Bears have winnable home games against Tennessee and San Francisco. Later dates against Green Bay, Washington and Minnesota are more daunting, but the Bears should manage to string together some victories. It might be a long shot to finish 7-9, but five or six victories is extremely realistic.