The NFL season is an evolving state of affairs with each team aspiring to hoist the Lombardi Trophy come February, but only 14 teams earn a chance to do so once the playoffs roll around.
Chicago has earned
that right for the first time since 2020 when they snuck in as a 7 seed wild-card team. Time have changed since then as your Chicago Bears have earned the 2 seed with at least two home playoff games if they can win this first one. And what a treat we have before us as the Bears get to host their rival, the Green Bay Packers, for only the two franchises’ third playoff matchup in the last 100 years.
In this weekly series, I’ve been featuring one player from each team on each side of the ball who I believe to be integral to their respective team’s success. It’s not always about the quarterback or superstar defensive players like Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons. Importance is all relative, and while the “star” players are obviously important each week, this series will also highlight some of the other guys.
Because let’s face it, often, the unsung players are just as critical to the team’s success.
Here are the players that I will be keyed in on in this one.
Let’s get started with the Chicago Bears!
Offense: Luther Burden III, WR
For the first time ever in this series we have a repeat player highlighted in consecutive games. And while I fully expect the run game to be established by Chicago this week, Burden III is the player who will capture my gaze whenever he is on the field against GB. Not only did he miss the last time these two teams played, but his first game against them included fireworks and bad blood from the beginning to the end. Additionally, he returns to the lineup alongside starter Rome Odunze after both players missed the last battle due to injury. Meaning, Chicago’s weapons will all be available against GB for the first time this season.
Not only will this soften the run defense, but it will spread out the pass defense and pose some serious matchup problems for the Packers. Since Rome is not going to be as close to 100% with so much time away, Burden III is the guy I expect to blow up this game. If he can, then Chicago should have no trouble moving the ball and putting up points against the Packers swiss cheese defense. If the offense fails to get into rhythm or makes careless errors like last week against Detroit and last time they played GB, Burden III will likely show some frustration along with the entire Soldier Field crowd.
Defense: Kyler Gordon, DB
Another player returning from injury for his first action against the rival Packers all season, Gordon is expected to appear in his 6th career game against GB with his only win being the season finale in 2024. When healthy, Spidey is not only an exceptional pass rusher and run defender from the slot, but also one of the best cover-nickel corners in the league. In his 3 games played this season, Chicago won all three games and the defense allowed an average of 17.6 points per game.
With CJ Gardner-Johnson out, I expect Gordon to be immediately be thrust in to most of the defensive snaps and in position to make a handful of game-changing plays. If he is able to step up to the occasion, not only will it likely lead to ending drives and preventing TDs, but would also be massive momentum swings in the biggest game of the rivalry to date. How he plays will be monumental.
Green Bay Packers
Offense: Christian Watson, WR
The 6’4” 208lb speedster from North Dakota State is 4-2 against the Bears in his career. If you throw out his first game against Chicago which was only his second game as a pro and he only played 32% of offensive snaps, he has averaged 4 catches for 96 yards and a TD in the GB wins and 2 catches for 18 yards in his only loss where he finished the game. Watson is the big play threat for GB and it isn’t even close. Especially with Tucker Kraft out for the season. If Chicago’s DBs can clamp down on Watson like they are seen doing in this picture, GB should be forced to run the ball or look to other options like Jayden Reed or Romeo Doubs, but history shows us that does not typically end well for GB when Watson is not featured and playing well against Chicago.
If Watson can run away from and get behind the Bears secondary, it’ll mitigate the home-field advantage and will likely end in a first round exit for Ben Johnson and crew in his first ever playoff appearance as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Defense: Rashan Gary, EDGE
Though Gary started the season strong with 7.5 sacks in the first 8 games, he has not recorded a single sack or tackle for loss since then which is even more of a concern for Packers fans considering he’s dne next to nothing since the injury to All-Pro teammate Micah Parsons in week 13. That will have to change this week for Green Bay to have any shot against Chicago and advance to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
With rookie LT Ozzy Trapilo officially off the injury report and All-World RT Darnell Wright playing at such a high level, Gary will try for a third time to make any sort of difference against these 2025 Bears. If he can disrupt the run and get his hands on Caleb or at least make some pressures in the passing game, Green Bay will have a chance to slow down the Bears offense and come out on top. If not, expect a Bears win thanks to an explosive offense and opportunistic defense wielding home field advantage.
Bears Packers Volume 3 for 2025! Who will you be watching during this Wild Card playoff matchup?!
Recap from Week 18:
Bears O – Luther Burden III, WR: 3 catches for 35 yards and 1 carry for 10 yards.
Bears D – CJ Gardner-Johnson, DB: 6 tackles, 5 solo. Multiple first downs and TDs allowed.
Lions O – Jahmyr Giibs, RB: 19 carries for 80 yards and 3 catches for 33 yards and a TD.
Lions D – Jack Campbell, LB: 11 tackles, 4 solo, with 1 pass deflection.
Remember, there’s a near-zero chance of a Bears win when all four players perform in a way that favors the opponent. Here, we keep track of weeks past to see how things unfolded:
Week 1: Loveland, Jarrett, Mason, Metellus – Vikes owned 75% this week. Perhaps 100%. L
Week 2: Jackson, Edmunds, Gibbs, Branch – Again, we were owned in 75% this week, maybe 100%. L
Week 3: Moore, Dexter Sr., Pickens, Sanborn – Finally, we dominated in all phases. At least 75% in our favor. W
Week 4: Swift, Brisker, Jeanty, Chinn – I’d say we went 2-2 here and barely squeaked away with the win. W
Week 6: Benedet, Spidey, Deebo, Payne – Split at a minimum, but I say 75% in our favor. W
Week 7: Burden, Byard, Shaheed, Werner – Easily secured 3/4 of these for the win that was not as close as the score would indicate. W
Week 8: Loveland, Billings, Henry, Roquan – 0/4 – L
Week 9: Monangai, Booker, Chase, Knight – 3/4 , arguably all 4 if you consider Chase’s numbers. – W
Week 10: Benedet, Edmunds, Tracy Jr., Lawrence – 3/4 , arguably all 4 if you consider 0 sacks allowed. – W
Week 11: Loveland, Sweat, Jones, Turner – 2/4 maybe. Went down to the wire. – W
Week 12: DJ, Brisk, Gainwell, Ramsey – 2/4, maybe 3/4 if you count Brisker’s game winning pass deflection. – W
Week 13: Dalman, Gervon, Saquon, Phillips – 3/4 though Phillips was close to doing more damage. – W
Week 14: Swift, Jaylon, Tom, Quay – 2/4 if not 1/4. Swift should have been featured more. – L
Week 15: Trapilo, Jarrett, Fannin Jr., Schwesinger – 3/4, nearly 4/4 as neither Brown made a big play.
Week 16: Monangai, TJ, Reed, Cooper – 3/4 if not 4/4. W
Week 17: DJ, Maine, Jauan, Bethune – 0/4. L
Week 18: Burden, CJ, Gibbs, Jack – 0/4. L
