Well, there you have it. The Chicago Bears are in the postseason.
Somehow, some way, the Chicago Bears found a way to get into the 2021 NFL Playoffs. Actually, it wasn’t entirely their own doing.
With the Arizona Cardinals losing to the Los Angeles Rams, it didn’t matter the outcome of the Bears’ final game against the Green Bay Packers. Although, putting up a much better fight would have been nice to see.
There will be fans who clamor, “The Bears had it 21-16 into the fourth quarter. They played the Packers tough.”
Yet, at the same time, I’m not so sure they watched the same game I did. The Bears dropped three interceptions which could have changed the course of the game. The defense could hardly finish tackles. Not to mention, they only sacked Aaron Rodgers once all game.
Offensively, Mitchell Trubisky took every opportunity to dink and dunk his way to mediocrity. Matt Nagy was reportedly more involved in play-calling in this one, and it showed. There was no real rhythm created for Trubisky, and the quarterback continued to hit every single 2-yard out route he could possibly target.
Allen Robinson ended up with his first reception (on just his second target) late in the third quarter. Explain that game plan.
The score should have been even worse in this game, as the Bears continued to play for field goals until it was too late and a 4th down pass play was called with just one yard to go — blame whomever you want to on that one. It was bad all around.
Now, they go into the postseason expecting to take on the New Orleans Saints in a game where they could potentially luck into not having to face running back Alvin Kamara due to the COVID-19 situation in New Orleans.
Regardless, the Bears are limping their way into this game after seeing Roquan Smith and Darnell Mooney exit with injuries. Cole Kmet was also banged up against the Packers. If they’re without any combination of those three, and also still missing Jaylon Johnson and Buster Skrine, they won’t stand a chance against Drew Brees in possibly his last run at a Super Bowl.
Chicago has a ton of question marks as they prepare for the playoffs. They have injuries. And yes, they still have a quarterback problem — a problem in which disallows the offense to throw beyond 10 yards down field on approximately 95 percent of offensive snaps.
Nagy’s influence on the play-calling was painfully obvious against the Packers. If they want any shot at hanging with the Saints, Bill Lazor should be given the reins, 100 percent once more.
They may be a playoff team, but they’re the seventh and last seed (due to an expanded playoff rule in an unorthodox season for the NFL) and barely scraped their way to an 8-8 season. Confident? Absolutely not. That’s the last thing fans should feel about this Bears team.
