Previewing the NFL Playoffs
NFC
- 2) The New Orleans Saints vs. 7) The Chicago Bears
The Saints and Bears matchup up in a game that everyone expects New Orleans to win.
These two teams played each other earlier this season and the Saints won a close won in Chicago against a Nick Foles lead Bears offense back in week 8. In that game, New Orleans was without their top two wideouts: Micheal Thomas and Emmanuel Saunders.
As long as the Saints play adequate football they should come out Sunday with the win. They’ve got one of the top defenses in the league and a more than capable offense lead by the future hall of fame quarterback Drew Brees. Plus, Micheal Thomas, one of the leagues top receivers, if not the top, who has been sidelined the past three weeks due to an ankle injury is expected to return this Sunday. According to Ian Rapoport, Thomas returned to practice on Wednesday on a limited basis, but the Saints will up his world as the week continues.
However, there is some hope more optimism for Bears fans. First of all, Any Given Sunday, am I right? Second of all, if the past is any indication of the future, this game should be interesting. Over the past three seasons, anytime the Saints are playing in the postseason, it’s sure to be a good one.
Last year, they lost a thriller to the Minnesota Vikings. In 2018, the Saints lost on a controversial no call to the Rams in the NFC Championship game. In 2017, the Saints lost to the Vikings again on the “Minneapolis Miracle.”
Third and most importantly, the Bears have looked pretty good over the last quarter of the season.
QB Mitchell Tribusky has been playing some pretty good football lately, and running back David Montgomery has been putting up numbers. Over the Bears last five games, Montgomery has rushed for 495 yards and has scored 7 touchdowns. That averages at to almost 100 yards and about 1.5 TDs a game. That’s not even putting in play his receiving yards.
If Montgomery continues playing the best football of his career and Tribusky continues playing decent football, then the Bears got a shot at the upset.
The Saints might stomp all over the Bears, or the Bears might pull off the upset, who knows. The only thing we now for sure is that it’ll be an entertaining game to watch.