Well. Here we go again. Green Bay is coming to Chicago to take on the Bears in the Wild Card Round. Who could’ve seen this coming? This has to be the most Chicago Bears way to start the playoffs. Let’s make the first playoff appearance since 2016 great by welcoming their rival, who has dominated this matchup since I was born.
As a football fan, you have to love that this game caps off Saturday night. Both games came down to the last play of regulation and overtime. Neither game was a shootout, but both were highlighted by some key injuries that ultimately hindered the full potential of the games.
Each of these teams is as healthy as they’ve been in weeks (minus GB with Parsons’ torn ACL), and the fanbases are one player injury away from starting a small war in the Midwest. I love that it’s on Saturday. Now I can load up on what my High School Social Studies teacher referred to as “Cherry Cokes” to get through whatever this game is going to be. Let’s dive in.
I have hit on this one every week that I’ve played it, and I’m not stopping now. Williams averages 33.5 attempts per game, so when the total comes in two shy of that, my eyes open just a tad wider.
Even if the weather causes an adjustment in overall game planning, I still think the Bears will look to get Caleb in a rhythm early. If this game follows the pattern of both Packers/Bears games this season, this is an easy hit.
Burden might only get one or two catches in this game due to the plethora of pass catchers that Chicago will be able to roll out on any given play, but that’s not what we’re looking at.
When he catches the ball, it’s typically in space where he can look to make a guy (or three) miss. Burden has been a problem for opposing secondaries since breaking out mid-season, and I don’t see that changing this week.
I really wanted to make this a Jordan Love TD passes pick, but I’m still cautious due to the two-week concussion absence. Watson, however, seems to be 100% and, barring an injury, will be a receiving option for whoever is in at QB.
If Green Bay is smart, and they are, they’ll do whatever it takes to match him up against Nahshon Wright. That’s a favorable matchup for Watson and one that I think he’ll win regularly.
The line at the time of writing this is Chicago +1, so I'll take the plus money on the money line. Here’s why. Chicago’s offense will win the evening against Green Bay’s defense. Without Micah Parsons, the Green Bay defense has been one of the worst in the league.
In the last month, the Packers have generated three quarterback sacks and forced one interception. That puts them in company with only one other team in the NFL in that timeframe, the New York Jets. In the two matchups played so far this season, Green Bay has sacked Caleb Williams once, during the first matchup.
Chicago will have a plethora of receivers to choose from this weekend, and I expect to see Ben Johnson getting Caleb going early. Green Bay is going to score, so it’s going to be close, and I lean toward Chicago in a close game. Hell, I lean toward Chicago no matter what. Bear Down Baby!