The Chicago Bears were able to clinch the NFC North division title on Sunday. They conquered their kryptonite, the Green Bay Packers 24-17. Up until Sunday, the Packers had beaten the Bears 15 out of the last 17 games, including the last eight at Soldier Field. The Bears got a strong performance from Mitchell Trubisky, who was able to play mistake-free football. Khalil Mack led the defensive charge with two and a half sacks, as he was able to get in Aaron Rodgers’ face all game long. Eddie Jackson sealed the game in the fourth quarter with an interception as the Packers were driving. Unfortunately, Jackson was injured on the play and had to leave the game. With this win, it ensures the Bears will host a home playoff game. Now that they’ve clinched, it will be interesting to see what this young and hungry team is able to do in the playoffs.
What Are the Chicago Bears Chances of Making a Run in the Playoffs?
The Bears have a very young roster without much playoff experience. However, as we saw last year with the Jacksonville Jaguars, that really doesn’t matter. They were able to win two playoff game and were one premature whistle away from representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. These two teams are very similar. They both have strong defenses who are able to force takeaways and put pressure on the opposing quarterbacks. Both offensive units have strong run games, with young quarterbacks who have the ability to run and extend plays.
Matt Nagy’s Creativity on Offense
The one thing the Bears have for them is a great offensive play caller. Matt Nagy is one of the brightest young offensive minds in the game. He takes a lot of pressure off of Trubisky, who has grown impressively since his rookie year. The Bears also have at their disposal a plethora of skill players who can have a major impact on a game. Tarik Cohen and Taylor Gabriel provide speed and agility to get past any defense. Trey Burton, Anthony Miller, and Allen Robinson are reliable pass-catchers who’ve helped Trubisky immensely. Jordan Howard provides the ability to run between the tackles, and pick up yardage in key situations. Nagy needs to find creative ways to get these guys the ball. If he’s able to do this, it will take a lot of pressure on the defense, which has carried this team for most of the season.
Bears Defense Remains the Key to Playoff Success
If the Bears want to make noise, it has to come down to the defense. Vic Fangio and his crew have arguably been the strongest unit in the entire NFL. They are able to rush the opposing quarterbacks with ease. Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan make up one of the most explosive linebacker corps in the game. The secondary, led by Kyle Fuller, Eddie Jackson, and Adrian Amos, has been able to shut down the passing game, as well as create key turnovers. If they’re able to continue to play at a high level, high powered offenses like the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams will struggle to put up points against this unit.
The Last Word
The Bears are a dangerous team and one that people don’t want to face in the playoffs. As long as they’re able to keep up their play on defense, and find creative ways to get their skill players the ball, they can make a real run at the Super Bowl. It’s safe to say that the Bears have put the rest of the NFL on notice.
