Despite losing their final two games, excitement was in the air across Chicago this week as the Bears prepared to host their first playoff game in seven years. Following their 0-2 start, there’s been a level of magic around this team for the majority of the season. Most fans know that, as fun as this season has been, the greater focus of optimism extends far beyond this one season.
It might be hard to believe, but despite the Bears’ rivalry with the Green Bay Packers dating back close to 100 years,
Saturday night was just the third time in league history that the two storied franchises faced off in a playoff game. For as surprising and exciting as the 2025 regular season went for the Bears, the Packers faced a different type of outlet heading into the game. With a win, their Super Bowl hopes would stay alive. With a loss, significant changes could be coming as a potential result of failing to deliver real playoff success for a second straight season.
Despite holding a 21-3 lead at halftime, Green Bay came out flat to start the second half, and like the Bears have done all season, they found a way to win the game in the final minutes. It might be hard to believe, but the Bears led for less than 10 minutes of regulation against the Packers this season, yet found a way to come out with two wins in three games, including Saturday night’s 31-27 second-half thriller at Soldier Field. For more on this game and what’s to come, let’s jump into a postseason edition of 10 Bears Takes.
1. Was Saturday Night’s Win The Completion Of Breaking A Long Line Of “Curses” That Have Plagued This Organization? Let’s Go Over The Records Broken.
- Overcoming an 18-point deficit. The biggest comeback in a playoff game in franchise history.
- First postseason win in 15 years.
- Caleb Williams’ 361 passing yards were the most in a playoff game in franchise history.
- Colston Loveland’s 137 receiving yards were the second most by a rookie tight end in the NFL.
- Loveland is the first rookie tight end since the merger in 1970 with three-straight 90-plus yard performances.
- 2007: The last time the Bears beat the Packers twice in the same season. After plenty of headlines made by head coach Ben Johnson for beating Matt LaFleur twice a season, he was able to deliver.
- 7: The most fourth-quarter comebacks in NFL history (including playoffs) go to the Bears’ franchise quarterback.
- 75 Years: The last time (before Saturday night) that the Bears beat the Packers in the playoffs.
The amount of “curses” broken this season and on Saturday night has to make fans feel good. This team has been living on the edge all season. Many have discounted their 11-win season by saying they wouldn’t be able to maintain the takeaways against better teams, despite leading the league with 33 of them. On Saturday night, they lost the turnover battle (0-2) yet still came out with the win.
When Johnson was introduced to Chicago in his first press conference, the head coach made waves for his comment about enjoying beating LaFleur twice a year. LaFleur, being an emotional guy, didn’t even try to hide how much it bothered him, and frankly, it’s hard to blame them. Through three games (and subsequent end-of-game handshakes), it has become abundantly clear that there’s no love lost between the two. Many new head coaches have singled out the Packers in their opening media statements. Not many have been able to deliver on their promises to “take back” the rivalry. There’s still a long way to go, but with a 2-1 record, including a playoff win, Johnson and company are off to a great start.
With the playoff win monkey off their back, it’s fair to wonder what that will open up for this team. I’m still far from expecting a Super Bowl appearance this season, but they are one win away from their first appearance in an NFC Championship game since the 2010 season. While we all know how that went, the good news is that the Bears have already slayed the dragon that is the Packers. Now we’ll see if they can beat the Eagles again in a rematch, and if they do, can they pull out an improbable win in Seattle to get to the Super Bowl? The path is there, but I will again go back to one thing to keep in mind: Everything else the Bears do this season is playing with house money. They are building for the future, and these types of wins cannot be discounted.
2. The Bears Have Played Plenty Of Poor First Halves This Season. Saturday Night Was As Disastrous As It Comes.
Following a thrilling game to lead off Saturday, all eyes shifted to Soldier Field for the Bears and Packers. The crowd was loud, and both teams were jacked up. On the opening coin toss, Packers quarterback Jordan Love called heads, and it came up tails. In that moment, Chicago had a choice: Kick the ball and lean on their second-half success or take the opening kick and hope it doesn’t bite them coming out of the half.
Following a 16-play, 59-yard drive that resulted in a field goal, things went downhill from there. The Bears’ offense was four-of-five on third downs on the opening drive and took seven minutes and 58 seconds off the clock. In the end, they came up with just three points, though. The Packers went down the field in nine plays for the 85-yard touchdown out of the gate. On the next drive, the offense struggled to move the ball but converted a key fourth down to get them into Packers territory. The drive went nowhere, and on a key fourth and six, Caleb Williams threw an interception, following a miscommunication with Burden.
The Packers scored again. The Bears failed on fourth down on the next drive, and the Packers scored again. Before they knew it, Chicago found themselves down 21-3. Despite having an opportunity to get points before the half, they couldn’t.
Heading into the half, the Bears were doubled up on first downs, and damn-near doubled-up on yards per play (7.2-to-3.8). Although the time of possession was close to even, it felt like the Packers were in complete control once they got the ball on offense.
Diving deeper into the defensive struggles, their lone drive that they didn’t give up points came on a 32-second drive where Green Bay went 27 yards, but missed a 55-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter. In the first 30 minutes, the Bears’ defense was 2-of-6 on third down and 0-of-2 on fourth down. Conversely, on the offensive side of the ball, they didn’t convert a third down following their opening drive (4-of-9) and were 1-of-4 on fourth downs, including a drive where they turned it over on downs on their own 32, which led to a touchdown.
For all of the talk about starting fast, Ben Johnson’s gamble to take the ball first to open the game blew up in his face. The offense accounted for just 122 yards on 32 plays, including going for it four separate times. The desperation seemed clear early, and it played a significant role in them going down by 18 points at the half.
All in all, it was a disastrous first half for the Bears, putting them in a hole that could have ultimately led to a first-round playoff exit. The second half was a completely different story, and we’ll get to that in a bit. The Cardiac Bears continue to find ways to win games, and I cannot comprehend it.
3. Coming Into Saturday Night, It Felt Like The Bears and Packers Were Teams Potentially Headed In Different Directions. Following The Bears’ Comeback Win, It’s Worth Wondering About Matt LaFleur’s Immediate Future.
For Chicago, the 2025 season has been nothing short of magical. Despite hiring the top name on the market as their head coach, completely remaking their offensive line, and adding more talent to the roster, no one gave them a chance to win the NFC North. Once it became clear that’s where things were headed, the predictions were mixed when it came to Saturday night’s rubber match against the Packers. While no one can blame anyone for their skepticism, the way the Bears continue to win games and shock the world is something that only happens every so often.
No matter how the postseason ends for them, Year 1 of Ben Johnson and Year 2 of Caleb Williams have been a rousing success. There’s no other way around that. This team is playing in the now, while building for the future.
On the other side of the field is the Packers.
In the lead-up to the playoffs, there was plenty of talk about the future of LaFleur in Green Bay. With new team president Ed Policy taking over, the Packers purposely structured LaFleur’s contract to have one year at the time that Policy took over. This allowed him time to have a fair evaluation and make his own decision. For all the ways Bears fans can hate the Packers, their organizational structure, while unconventional, has worked well for a long time. Although it was reported (before Saturday’s game) that his job status would not be judged on a four-quarter playoff game, it’s worth wondering if their latest blown lead will be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe LaFleur is a great coach, and especially in this cycle, it’s going to be hard to replace him with someone better. More importantly, his offensive scheme is so team-friendly that no matter who the quarterback and receivers are, you can count on them producing a Top 10-15 product. That said, it’s easy to see why there’s an argument against LaFleur, even if it’s impossible to pinpoint him as the exact issue.
Under LaFleur, the Packers have made the playoffs in six of seven seasons. They’ve also finished above .500 in six of seven seasons, with their lone losing season coming in at 8-9. His overall regular-season record since taking over in 2019 is 76-40-1. The issue? He holds a 3-6 playoff record, including three first-game exits. Despite continually fielding highly talented rosters, it seems like the Packers have become annual underachievers.
Bears fans might look at his overall record and say, “What’s the problem here?”, and while that’s a fair question, the general standard between the two teams over the last two decades has been night-and-day. A better way to look at this is that LaFleur’s track record of getting to the postseason is similar to Lovie Smith’s, but unlike Lovie, his inability to get the team to a Super Bowl has become an issue.
No matter how many ways you cut it, the Packers have a decision to make. High-profile coaches rarely head into a lame-duck year. On top of LaFleur’s lack of playoff success, there have been rumors that they don’t have any interest in paying him like one of the top head coaches in the league. If that’s the case, it’s fair to wonder if that’s singular to him or an overall organizational philosophy. For now, we wait, but it’s weird to watch the two teams heading in seemingly different directions, even if it’s just about stability.
4. Earlier In The Weekend, Right Tackle Darnell Wright Was Voted As A Second-Team All-Pro. While It Might Be Hard To Believe, There’s An Argument To Be Made That He’s Only General Manager Ryan Poles’ Third-Best First-Round Pick.
On Friday, the Bears had three players named as All-Pros. Left guard Joe Thuney and safety Kevin Byard III were named to the first-team, while Wright finished behind Penei Sewell on the second-team. Any time a team has a good season, more eyes are on them, and in turn, their players tend to receive more recognition. 2025 was no different for the Bears, and all three were well-deserved. While it’s always a “gold star” for a general manager to have players rewarded as an All-Pro, it’s even better when those players are guys that he drafted.
That got me thinking, of Poles’ four first-round picks, how would I rank them? I’m going to give it a shot with some thoughts behind each one.
- QB Caleb Williams (2024 No. 1 overall pick)
When I go through evaluations like this, there’s always going to be a bit of projection when ranking players that haven’t gotten past their rookie contracts yet. That said, Williams’ Year 2 showed exponential growth across many key areas, strong predictors of future success. Cutting his sack rate by close to 65% was huge, as was his ability to avoid turnovers for a second-straight year. The Superstar ability has always been there, especially with off-the-wall physical gifts. Frankly, I’m expecting an MVP-caliber Year 3 from him.
- TE Colston Loveland (2025 No. 10 overall pick)
Early in the season, it was fair to question why the Bears chose to take a tight end so early if they weren’t going to use him. A minor injury got in the way of an early-season breakout, but since Week 9’s breakout in Cincinnati, he’s been a focal point in a very explosive offense. Despite totaling just 116 yards in his first six games played, he finished ninth among tight ends in receiving yards. In Loveland’s last three games, he’s averaging 107.33 yards per game, while posting no less than 91 yards per game during that stretch. By all accounts, the 21-year-old Michigan product is a star in the making.
- RT Darnell Wright (2023 No. 10 overall pick)
Throughout Wright’s first two years in the league, the flashes were there, but the consistency never was. When first-year offensive line coach Dan Roushar got to know his personnel better throughout the offseason program, one of the first things he did was not-so-subtly call out Wright for those same inconsistencies. Once the regular season hit, the former No. 10 overall pick looked like a different player. He consistently moves defenders in the run game, and his pass-blocking has drastically improved. He went from being a player with a high ceiling to one of the best right tackles in the league. Wright should be in for quite a hefty extension over the next year or so.
- WR Rome Odunze (2024 No. 9 overall pick)
Through two years, it’s fair to classify Odunze as a good, but not great player. A stress fracture slowed him down in 2025, but some of the things he did well in college have somehow not translated consistently to the NFL level. Odunze’s ceiling is still far from being reached, but it’s also worth wondering if it ever will be in an offense that features so many pass-catching weapons. Year 3 will be big for Odunze, especially when it comes to picking up his fifth-year option. With Luther Burden III and Loveland primed for big sophomore seasons, Odunze’s role might look a little different in 2026.
Through four drafts, Poles has had a collection of Top 10 picks. While that might seem like an easy hit for any general manager, those types of players still “bust” too. Poles has done a nice job of accumulating talent in spots where he absolutely needed to. With a better Year 3 from Odunze, all four players should be considered key pieces for the future.
5. Of The 14 Quarterbacks In The Postseason, All But Two Of Them Are Under The Age Of 30.
Has the NFL become a young man’s game, or are this year’s postseason quarterback contestants a byproduct of an unpredictable season? At this point, take your pick. The 2025 regular season was one of the more erratic in recent memory, with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Detroit Lions missing the playoffs for the first time in quite some time.
Thanks to the league’s ever-evolving parity, every year brings a host of new teams led by young quarterbacks. This year, new contestants included second-year quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, third-year quarterback Bryce Young, and the return of fifth-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Of course, not all of the new teams to the postseason included quarterbacks whose ages start with a two. Aaron Rodgers (42) made a triumphant return to the playoffs after a three-year absence. Even so, the average age of the 14-team playoff pool was 27.79.
We’ll see if the league’s playoff teams continue to trend younger and younger. This year could have been a byproduct of “luck,” or it could be the fact that some of the previous draft classes (before 2025) were deep in talent, with players starting all over the NFL. Either way, it’s good to see the Bears on the right side of this number, while also knowing that this should be just the beginning of many new playoff trends in Chicago.
6. Speaking Of Quarterbacks, Caleb Williams Has Not Yet Surpassed Jordan Love, But With The Game On The Line, Williams Has Proven To Be The Quarterback To Trust.
There’s been plenty of talk this season about both Williams and Love. Objectively speaking, Love is still the superior quarterback, especially in the regular season. Some might view that as a slight to Williams, but if anything, it’s a credit to Love. I know, I get it. Never compliment a rival. At all. Ever.
That said, Love is a legitimately good quarterback, and I think it’s about time that Bears fans acknowledge that. The difference this time around is that he’s not elite, and Chicago has someone who is close and with a higher ceiling. In many ways, all four teams in the NFC North are closely matched in one way, shape, or form. The Bears, Packers, and Vikings all have three of the top offensive playcallers in the league. The Bears, Lions, and Packers have three of the league’s Top 12 quarterbacks. Defensively, the Lions and Packers have two of the best pass rushers in the game, while the Bears, Packers, and Vikings have three of the best defensive play callers in the game.
So, when I say that Love is better than Williams in the present, it’s not as bad as one might think.
One thing that Williams has that Love doesn’t: The ability to put his team on his back and win the game in crunch time. Again, not as much of a criticism about Love as it is a compliment to Williams. Following Saturday’s win, he now has seven-game winning drives to his name this season alone, and eight in two seasons. In Love’s fifth NFL season and third full season starting, he has nine. Considering the context of both quarterbacks’ supporting casts, it’s a wonder that Williams had any coming into 2025.
For Williams to take the next step in his NFL career, he must become more consistent. That’s a broad generalization, but for good reason. His accuracy and overall ball placement are two things that are at the top of most fans’ minds, but his tendency to go cold in the middle of games is also something that needs to improve. The same with how he starts games. Sometimes he’s on, other times he’s missing high all over the field. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick has all the tools (and then some) to become an elite quarterback, and it’s also worth noting that even though Love is considered a third-year starter, he sat behind Aaron Rodgers on the bench for three years. So even if the snap total doesn’t look drastically different, his NFL experience surely is.
For now, fans should just take it as it comes. An opponent’s quarterback will severely outmatch the Bears, and that’s not something we’ve been able to say in quite some time. The next step in Williams’ progression will be convincing onlookers through the box score.
7. Taking My Own Stab At Ranking All 14 Playoff Quarterbacks.
Before we officially cut the playoff field from 14 down to eight, let’s take a look at each team’s starting quarterback and where I would rank them coming into the playoffs.
- Josh Allen
Last year’s MVP comes into this year’s postseason as the best quarterback for the first time in his career. That’s not a slight against him, but any time your competition is Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, it’s always going to be a tough call. Buffalo’s road to the Super Bowl will come on the road, but if there’s any team in the AFC that can do it, it’s the Bills. A big reason why is their quarterback.
- Matthew Stafford
Two names on this list have previously won a Super Bowl. Stafford is the most recent, the youngest, and arguably the best player in this list. In fact, he would be my MVP vote (if I had one). At 37 years old, Stafford is having the best season of his career. It helps to have Puka Nacua and Davante Adams as primary targets, but he’s making things happen every week. Now he’ll go on the road into a cold-weather environment, where, historically, he’s produced a mixed bag of results.
- Drake Maye
There hasn’t been a single quarterback in the league who has seen a bigger jump from 2024 to 2025. That’s not to say Maye was “bad” during his rookie year, but he’s played at an MVP-level in Year 2. Similar to another draft classmate of his on this list, the biggest question that remains is how he’ll perform on a big stage. It wasn’t something that he did in college, but with an experienced coaching staff and a strong supporting staff, there’s reason to believe it won’t be a problem.
- Brock Purdy
Admittedly, I’ve fallen victim to underrating Purdy on multiple occasions. Health and availability are a part of the equation here, but in the end, he’s just really damn good. What the 49ers have been able to do in 2025 has been nothing short of remarkable. Purdy might have spurts of poor decisions, but he always seems to deliver in the game’s most important moments. Come to think of it, he was that way in his rookie year when he stepped in to lead the 49ers all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Sometimes players just have “it”, and Purdy is one of those.
- Justin Herbert
In many ways, 2025 was a disaster for the Chargers and Herbert. In a matter of months, he lost both starting tackles, and the offensive line as a whole has struggled. He’s been battered, bruised, and fighting a broken left hand. All that aside, he was a big part of the Chargers’ 11-6 record. Herbert’s arm talent has always been undeniable, but under Jim Harbaugh, he’s become a more complete quarterback. His 0-3 playoff record is his biggest downfall.
- Jordan Love
As I highlighted in an earlier point, it’s time for Bears fans to accept that Love is an outstanding quarterback. Is he as elite as his two predecessors? No. At least not yet. That said, he’s strung together three quality seasons, and after a year where his development felt stagnant, he took the next step in 2025. Despite his previous playoff struggles, Love was outstanding during the Packers’ stunning 31-27 Wild Card defeat. Green Bay might have plenty of questions to answer in the offseason, but quarterback is not one of them.
- C.J. Stroud
Coming into the season, the biggest question surrounding the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year was which version of himself was the actual NFL product? Following a historically good rookie season, Stroud took a noticeable step back in 2024. The Texans responded by reworking their offensive line and hiring a new offensive coordinator. Even if the season didn’t start as hoped, the third-year quarterback came on strong down the stretch, looking like a refined version of his rookie campaign. With that defense, the Texans could be dangerous if they can get past the Steelers on Monday night.
- Sam Darnold
As a regular-season quarterback, Darnold has not only been one of the most pleasant surprises in the league, but he’s been one of the best. That said, my bigger question surrounding him is how he’ll look in the playoffs. Last year for the Vikings didn’t go well, and we won’t get a second look until Sunday when they host the 49ers. Darnold has all the tools to lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, but the mental part is what he’ll need to prove. If he already did, he’d be much higher on my list.
- Caleb Williams
Have the Bears finally found their franchise quarterback of the present and future? If Year 1 paired with Ben Johnson was any indication, the sky is the limit. The raw physical talent and improvisation skills have always been there. The consistency to stay level throughout a game and the ability to play within structure have both been questioned. Following another big fourth quarter against the Packers, Williams did something no Bears quarterback has done since 2010, and that’s win a playoff game. We’ll see what next weekend holds against the Rams.
- Trevor Lawrence
The start of a new marriage can always be unpredictable, especially in the NFL. Despite Jacksonville’s early success in the regular season, things did not seem to be clicking for Lawrence and Liam Coen’s offense. Then a light came on, and he played like an elite quarterback down the stretch. Throughout Lawrence’s five-year career, consistency has always been a problem. At times, he looks like he’ll live up to his draft status. During other stretches, it’s easy to question why they gave him a lucrative extension. Jaguars fans should be excited about Year 2 in this offense, but it’s also fair to hold a level of skepticism, given his history.
- Jalen Hurts
Hurts has far outperformed his second-round draft status. At times, he has looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the league. That said, 2025 was a disaster for the Eagles’ offense. On the surface, Hurts’ numbers look good. When taking a deeper dive, there’s a lot to be desired, both with his decision-making and overall effectiveness as a passer. I’m willing to write this season off as the wrong fit in a bad offense, but it’s fair to wonder how many changes will occur this offseason before we see him play football again. Yes, he’s a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but I would not call him elite or anything close to it.
- Bo Nix
The commentary surrounding the 2024 first-round quarterbacks has been interesting to follow. Last year, Jayden Daniels was the next great quarterback, and Nix was one of two rookie quarterbacks to lead their team to the playoffs. In 2025, Maye and Williams broke out, while Daniels had an injury-riddled season, and Nix stayed about the same. Admittedly, Nix has already far outperformed my highest NFL expectations for him, but it’s also fair to wonder if he’s reached his ceiling. In many ways, his numbers over the first two years of his career have not differed much. Year 3 will be important in projecting how far he can go.
- Aaron Rodgers
In a full-picture zoom-out, Rodgers is clearly one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. His prime, which felt like it lasted forever, was extremely impressive, even if he could only come away with a single Super Bowl ring. That said, the 43-year-old version isn’t the same player. Frankly, not even close. The arm talent has still flashed, but the offense he’s in has done him little favors, and his lack of mobility has limited his effectiveness. He’s as mentally sharp as ever, but physically, it’s hard to imagine many scenarios where he leads the Steelers on a deep playoff run.
- Bryce Young
Poor Bryce, man. He did well to help lead his team to the playoffs, and his never-say-die mentality helped the Panthers win more games than anyone expected. That said, the ceiling is limited, and the floor is way lower than it should be for any quarterback with his draft status. Although Young finished the regular season with career-best numbers, I can’t help but wonder how much better he can truly get. Between his size, average arm strength, and above-average athleticism, he doesn’t possess many “bail-out” tools to overcome anything outside of a perfect situation. On the plus side, they gave one of the NFC’s best all they could handle twice in the same season.
8. Could This Be The Cycle That Assistant General Manager Ian Cunningham Finally Lands Control Of His Own Team?
Time flies when you’re having fun… Or getting older. I don’t know which one is more apt for this particular situation, but I find it hard to believe that this is somehow Cunningham’s fourth offseason of being one of the top candidates to land a general manager role. Following general manager Ryan Poles’ first season as the head man, many fans were antsy that his right-hand man would get pulled from him too soon. The subsequent few cycles saw Cunningham’s name brought up plenty, but despite being a finalist each year, he remained in Chicago.
It’s worth noting that general manager jobs are not only hard to come by but also next to impossible to get a second chance at if fired. In the early going, it felt like Cunningham was being purposely selective. Although I’m not sure we’ll ever receive a definitive confirmation, plenty of rumors have circulated that he turned down the Arizona Cardinals job in 2023. Three years later, the young assistant general manager had become a headlining name, but with only two open jobs (so far). The Miami Dolphins had a two-month head start on their search after firing former general manager Chris Grier at the midpoint of the season. As a result, they had a short list of candidates, and Cunningham wasn’t on it.
That said, it’s fair to wonder how much of that simply came down to the assumption that he is THE front-runner for the same role in Atlanta. With former quarterback Matt Ryan expected to land the role of President of Football Operations, the assumption is that his relationship with Poles will lead him to Cunningham. Unlike in previous seasons, the two teams with open general manager spots are moving quickly and keeping their lists short.
We’ve heard that Cunningham is the “favorite” at a few spots before, but this one feels different considering the ties. Assuming that he does land the job, how Poles chooses to replace him will be interesting. The obvious internal name is Jeff King, Senior Director of Player Personnel. Following an eight-year playing career, King got his start in the Bears’ organization as a scouting intern back in 2015. He has since worked his way up through two different regimes and feels like the most logical candidate to slide into Cunningham’s spot. He’s had a few interviews in the past, but a promotion would lend more credibility to his future candidacy with other NFL organizations.
Any time a key piece of the organization is poached away, there will always be mixed feelings. On the one hand, Poles is losing a trusted voice in the room, and someone who was respected enough to land a promotion with a different organization. On the other hand, it’s an opportunity for the team to bring in fresh voices, and/or promote from within. The most conflicting aspect of a potential hiring is that, because Ryan is the “lead” of football operations, Cunningham’s role would be viewed by the league as a lateral move. That means that the Bears would not get a pair of third-round compensatory picks.
Cunningham interviewed for the President of Football Operations role on Friday. The assumption was that Ryan would get the job, and he did. The four candidates who interviewed for that role will be in the running for their de facto general manager opening. Assuming no wrinkles are thrown into the process, fans should expect a final round of interviews in the coming week or two, with a decision following shortly after. For now, we’ll just do what we’ve done the three times prior and sit back, relax, and wait to see what shakes out. No matter the outcome, there will be no compensation coming back in the Bears’ direction.
9. Black Monday Didn’t Bring Any Surprises, But The Following Days Brought Many Surprises Why Those Might Not Be Done, Even In A Shallow Candidate Pool.
The predictable moves happened as expected. Pete Carroll was out in Vegas after one season. Following a second season of disappointment, Raheem Morris was dismissed in Atlanta. Stefanski found himself out in Cleveland, as did Jonathan Gannon in Arizona. Despite the sheer amount of quality candidates, jobs have opened at an above-average rate.
Then Tuesday and Wednesday came. First, John Harbaugh was fired in Baltimore following a disappointing season and a playoff-less appearance. While there was always some speculation, anytime a coach who was employed for 18 years breaks loose, it’s going to create waves. Harbaugh has immediately jumped to the front of the line on every team’s “Top Candidate” list. The next day, shortly after meeting with the media, Miami fired Mike McDaniel. The move itself wasn’t overly surprising, but the timing and context behind it turned some heads.
Following the first week of the postseason, there’s reason to believe another opening or two could shake loose. We’ve already covered the situation in Green Bay, but another franchise to keep an eye on is the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, it has been reported that ownership would never “fire” Mike Tomlin. There has been an increase in rumors surrounding Tomlin taking a break from coaching to do a few years on television. If so, it would be similar to a Sean Peyton situation, where the Steelers would retain his rights but ultimately trade him if or when he returned.
As of Sunday night, there were eight total openings, and one general manager opening. As of this weekend, reports indicate the Falcons are shifting their focus to the head coaching search, which makes plenty of sense given the number of teams looking for their next guy. If even one of Green Bay or Pittsburgh opens up, that will create nine openings, but at least with a firing of LaFleur, it would recycle another name that would be added to the top of every team’s list. For Bears fans, be thankful they didn’t wait another season to move on from Eberflus. This is not a hiring cycle that many teams should feel comfortable in.
10. Divisional Weekend Look Ahead: The League’s Highest Flying Offense– The Los Angeles Rams.
On Sunday Night Football, it was announced that the Bears will host the Rams on Sunday, with a time to be determined following Monday night’s results. An early look at Sunday’s forecast shows a high of 17 and a low of 12, with a chance of snow. In Matthew Stafford’s career in snow or rain, he’s 1-9 with a 16:11 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a quarterback rating below 80. However, it should be noted that Stafford’s last outing in those conditions was in last year’s NFC Divisional game, where he went 26-of-44 (59%) for 324 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 97.2 rating.
On paper, this might be the least ideal matchup for the Bears. The Rams’ offense ranked 1st in yards (394.6), was the only offense to average over 30 points per game, and 1st in offensive DVOA (30.3). On the other side of the ball, their defense ranked 3rd in defensive DVOA (-13.8), 5th in takeaways (26), 10th in points (20.4), and 17th in yards (327.5). Suffice to say, this is a team that is well-balanced and very good on both sides of the ball.
Even so, they haven’t looked like the same team over the final month or so of the season. Similar to the Bears, they’ve played in 9 one-score games, including the playoffs. Their five losses came by a combined 17 points, and their point differential (+172) ranked second-best in the league, only behind the NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Rams open up as 4.5-point favorites, despite being on the road.
For the Bears, the need to play a complete game has never been more urgent. The Rams’ high-scoring offense will give the Bears fits all day, and their defensive front can get after the best in the NFL. From a matchup standpoint, this isn’t a great one for Chicago, but if they’ve proven anything this year, it’s that no matter who they face, they’ll always have a chance to hang in the game heading into the fourth quarter.
The weather could be a significant factor, and any West Coast team traveling to a cold-weather city will always be at a disadvantage. Stopping their offense between the 20s will be a tall task, which means their redzone success will be paramount to their defense keeping them in the game. Offensively, staying away from turnovers and keeping Williams clean in the pocket will be key. This is the most dangerous defensive line they’ve faced since seeing the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11.
The decks will be stacked against the Bears heading into Sunday afternoon, but if they can come out with the win, it’s reasonable to believe they can get to the Super Bowl. One game separates them from their first NFC Championship Game bid since the 2010 season. Buckle up, Bears fans. This team is playing with house money, and as we continue to learn, you can never count them out.
