Fear The Chorizo

And Cooper injured 😒 I thought this game would come down to how packer LBs played - so far they've been great... But if the Packers thing 21 is enough to win this game they are sorely mistaken. Did MLF just check his voicemails at halftime? Their 2nd half approach looks horrific rn

Plus they are run blitzing up the middle

Atrocious offense to start this half - i dont get why you cant line up in a traditional power formation on am early down and hand the ball to Jacobs without being in the shotgun. Seeming like MLF getting cute amd forgot what got them rolling early in this very game.

This game is now on the offense to win - i dont want to see a 2nd half game plan that looks like they are sitting on a big lead and slowly seeing the bears crawl back into this. Defense has already done plenty to win - step on their necks and score more

Way too passive/protective a 1st possession...line up and run the damn ball

I think that doesnt give nearly enough credit to what Cignetti brought to that program just by getting on campus. I dont care what kind of NIL money shows up, in 2 seasons turning literally THE power conference football doormat into what we are watching destroy an NIL-era juggernaut with infinite resources and NFL- style facilities in the CFP semifinals is simply unreal.

The Bears were among the worst teams in football last season, frankly a bunch of rookies HAVE to play significant roles for them, because they spent a TON of money last offseason shoring up a putrid line with veteran interior OL amd still had holes to fill all over the field (almost never a good longterm strategy for team cap purposes, btw). The NFL is structured for teams like the Bears to eventually figure it out well enough to open up a 2-3 year window where they're at least not awful. At some point a squirrel finds a nut constantly picking high - and the Bears had a really good last couple drafts. Don't get me wrong - they hit on more than just 1st-2nd rounders, too. For Golden's situation, there are only so many footballs to go around - i do think Doubs needs to go and Golden will have a much larger role alongside Watson and Reed in the passing game. I think he has been underutilized - it seems to me like that weird pirouette he tried returning a punt that saw him get obliterated early in the season sent him to the corner in MLF's mind for far too long.

I simply think the reason the Ravens didn't get to a Super Bowl since the last time they won it in 2013 under Harbaugh wasn't his coaching. Jackson won 2 regular season MVPs during this stretch, but he hasn't been a difference-making player in the playoffs - in fact he's been a turnover machine. Baltimore moving on from Harbaugh to me feels more like the Eagles moving on from Andy Reid than anything. He's a damn good NFL head coach.

Yeah I get that feeling - especially if weather/field conditions play any sort of role. It would be sweet to win and send a fraudulent Bears team packing with this mash unit of a roster a week earlier than they otherwise would, though. Their fanbase is so arrogantly ignorant and annoying.

Mahomes and Andy Reid had a ton to say about that...along with Belicheck and Brady. Not to mention injuries and inconsistent postseason play on Jackson's part and choke-level drops from receivers and kickers (who wouldnt even be in that position if not for an all time great being a degenerate off the field). Being reported that at least 1 team who currently doesn't have a coaching opening has already reached out to Harbaugh's team....thinking that could easily be the Packers. The Packers have perenially been a special teams doormat along with having coaches who cant seem to grasp clock management at a grade school level in critical moments of a game, and it has cost them title runs - say what you will about leaning towards an offensive or defensive minded head coach, but at this point I'd like to have a coach who knows special teams and who can rely on coordinators to call plays while he has his pulse on other game/clock management situations. Harbaugh is just that, and he would be my #1 choice if the Packers opt to send MLF packing should they lose this weekend.

Harbaugh out in Baltimore... If I'm Policy, I get on the line with him now and gauge his interest if there is any thought of making changes to the Packer coaches and front office - i think he's a good coach who takes care of dramatically improving special teams, and has the pull to bring in quality coordinators. Thinking his firing has more to do with getting stale in Baltimore.

The Bears ran it 40 times in their win over the Eagles. If the Packers DL can’t stop the inside run; I would expect the Bears to run it like that again. They were able to run it 40+ times in that game because they got a lead and the Eagles' offense gave them two turnovers besides being awful. They had just gotten shut down for the 2nd half of that Cowboys game 4 days earlier by an equally bad defense. The next week the Bears ran it 32 times for 138 yards, and two weeks later ran it 26 times for 150 yards....against the Packers. So it's not like the Packers shut them down running the ball either in more recent games where the Packers won and should have won even as their defensive roster was gutted losing Wyatt and then Parsons. The Bears have actually been running it less and less down the stretch, which seems odd since it's not like the defenses they've faced are considered elite in that same span - but then you realize a big reason is they've been playing from behind ever since that Eagles game. Part of the Packers' gameplan needs to be scoring points against an awful Bears defense and playing keep away with the time of possession to prevent the Bears' offense from getting into a mode where they're chewing up 5-8 yards a carry and getting wide open looks with easy throws off play action in the 2nd half of a game they firmly control. I don't think GB is good enough defensively to prevent the Bears from getting on a roll for an entire game, but if they can at least generate a few 3 and outs or make it tough sledding for part of the game, I think it could be enough for the Packers to wind up winning the game by outscoring them.

I actually don't put a ton of stock into that Ravens game because it came on the heels of the Packers blowing what they thought was their shot at the division/#2 seed by beating themselves at Chicago (a game they held the Bears' running game in check), and the night after the Packers knew they clinched a playoff spot. They will be challenged to repeat the success they've had limiting the Bears running game in both games they've played this season, which is why I think how the Packers' linebackers play will have a huge say in the outcome of this playoff game. Forecast for saturday night's game looks to be temps in the upper 20s after a morning of a rainy/snow mix, and pretty windy. Knowing how putrid the playing surface at Soldier Field is under even good weather conditions, this could turn into a mudder assuming their grounds crew does something stupid (safe bet) - which I think favors the Bears, but should also help the Packers' run game and slippery field conditions tend to even out what happens in the trenches.

Isn't the rule of thumb that playing at home gives a line 3 or 3.5 points? So even if the Bears opened at -1.5 Vegas essentially is saying this is a coinflip

I think this game hinges on how well Packer linebackers play - if Walker and Cooper don't have great games I can see the Bears moving the ball at will running it, tight ends up the seams, and receivers/RBs with screens/short option routes on the outside...an offensive game plan that minimizes the times Williams has to make risky throws/reads into coverage and also churn clock with the running game. If they play great and find a way to keep Williams' scrambling ability in check, Green Bay wins Saturday night.

For their odds of winning, I like that it's played the first day it could possible be and makes it a short week for Bears regulars compared to the Packers essentially having a bye week with their key starters.

Yes....and unless Darnold goes full playoff meltdown I don't think the Packers can win that game. That's not to say Darnold won't do just that.

That's why I think GB's shot at a playoff run isnt 0....Kraft and Parsons and Wyatt's ACLs are the reason they arent one of the NFC favorites - but I think they are still much more than a wounded 7 seed with no shot against an overrated #2 seeded Bear team. People will cite the Ravens game when their defense got run over...that came on the heels of them blowing what they thought was the division AND finding out they still clinched a playoff berth the night before - im not saying they're still at a big disadvantage as a defense in the trenches, but they're going to be competitive.

Looks like Commanders back in front...would like to see a walkoff FG by the Lions now - assuming Campbell has the Lions to win on Draft kings The Bears could still easily beat the Packers next weekend, but that's the best chance the Packers have to winning their 1st playoff game.

They blew their last 2 drives...only reason this is a game at all

I'm not a tinfoil hat....but if there was ever a game that would prove the NFL is rigged and coaches are on the take, the 4th quarter of this Bears Lions game would be exhibit A proof

Dan Campbell should be fired before MLF...some of the most idiotic playcalls/decisions have cost the Lions a playoff spot this year. Weird that i was actually happy they just tried that crap at midfield so it stays a 1 score game, since the Eagles are up, too.

Oh I agree - I think the Eagles are going to the super bowl again and would win a boring game against this wounded Packers unit. Despite the injuries, this Packer team can still readily beat the Bears next weekend

I said it early in the 3rd quarter a few weeks ago before the Packers decided to beat themselves, this Bear team is a total fraud. Bear talking heads on sports radio this week stating "I like our chances against anyone if the defense can generate 2-3 turnovers each game"...no kidding, fools. When you don't get that, you get beat.

But each of them also have flaws - I think they are better, but not 3+ score blowout better. A healthy Love, receiver corps minus Kraft, mostly healthy Oline, and decently healthy Jacobs can score on anyone enough to be in a competitive game in the 4th quarter