Tag: Bears playoffs

Ryan Pace one of two football execs that hasn’t won a playoff game since at least 2015

Ryan Pace is one of just 12 lead football executives, who have been in their position since 2015 or longer, that hasn’t won a playoff game.

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As the Chicago Bears contemplate their future — with questions about the job securities of general manager Ryan Pace, head coach Matt Nagy and president Ted Phillips — Sunday’s wild-card loss to the New Orleans Saints was a reminder of how far away the Bears are.

Just in case you needed a reminder of just how bad things are, Pace is one of just 12 lead football executives, who have been in their position since 2015 or longer, that hasn’t won a playoff game. Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown is the other.

Six of those executives have lead their teams to Super Bowl championships, a stark reminder of where this franchise is right now.

Pace has made his share of mistakes since taking over as general manager in 2015, but his most egregious remains drafting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky over the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. It’s a move that we all knew would ultimately spell his doom, because this is a quarterback-driven league.

While Pace did manage to turn a terrible defense into one of the league’s best over the last five years, it’s the offense — particularly his failure at quarterback — that will follow him.

Obviously if Chicago had managed to make a playoff run over these last three years that would be different. But the Bears’ Super Bowl window appears to have shut as quickly as it opened just three years ago.

The Bears have some important decisions to make at the management level, which should start with deciding the futures of Pace, Nagy and Phillips. If for some reason Pace survives, he’ll be tasked with another attempt at drafting a franchise quarterback. But he’ll always be remembered for passing on two of the league’s young stars.

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Bears will likely face Saints RB Alvin Kamara, WR Michael Thomas in wild-card game

It sounds like the Saints will have their two biggest weapons at their disposal for QB Drew Brees when they face the Bears in the playoffs.

The Chicago Bears have had their share of luck when it comes to facing some of the league’s biggest playmakers, as they’ve avoided some due to injury.

Now, that luck is turning against the Bears.

Chicago will face the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs, and it sounds like the Saints will have their two biggest weapons at their disposal for quarterback Drew Brees.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, it sounds like both running back Alvin Kamara and receiver Michael Thomas will be back after missing the regular-season finale.

Kamara tested positive for COVID-19, and he missed last Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Given the timing of the Bears-Saints game — Sunday, Jan. 10 at 3:40 p.m. CT — that means Kamara has a chance to play, if he’s cleared off the COVID-19 reserve list.

As for Thomas, he’s been on injured reserve for the last three weeks with an ankle injury. His return should provide a boost for the Saints, who beat the Bears 26-23 in overtime back in Week 8 without Thomas at their disposal.

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Twitter reacts to the Bears clinching a playoff spot after loss to Packers

Twitter had plenty to say about the Bears’ return to the playoffs after their poor performance against the Packers in Week 17.

The Chicago Bears are returning to the postseason for the second time in three seasons since Matt Nagy took over as head coach. While the Bears were in control of their playoff destiny — win in Week 17 and they’re in — they needed a little help along the way.

While Chicago would make the playoffs with a win over the Green Bay Packers, they could also get in with an Arizona Cardinals loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Ultimately, Chicago lost 35-16 to the Packers, but the Rams defeated the Cardinals 18-7, which helped stamp the Bears’ ticket to the postseason.

Twitter had plenty to say about Chicago’s return to the playoffs — and after their poor performance against Green Bay, there’s a mixture of surprising optimism, pessimism and realism heading into a wild-card match-up against the No. 2 seed New Orleans Saints.

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Bears wild-card playoff schedule: Chicago will face Saints 3:40 p.m. CT Sunday

No. 7 Chicago face travel to New Orleans to face the No. 2 Saints in the wild-card round in what will be a rematch of their Week 8 contest.

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The Chicago Bears have made it back to the postseason for the second time in three years. While it certainly wasn’t pretty along the way, the Bears get to keep playing football in January.

No. 7 Chicago face travel to New Orleans to face the No. 2 Saints in the wild-card round in what will be a rematch of a Week 8 contest, where New Orleans prevailed 26-23.

The Bears and Saints will play on Sunday at 3:40 p.m. CT on CBS. The game will also air on Nickelodeon, which means there’s a chance to see Matt Nagy and co. get slimed during the game — well, not literally.

Here’s a look at the full schedule for wild-card weekend:

Saturday

  • Indianapolis Colts vs. Buffalo Bills – 12:05 p.m. CT (CBS)
  • Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks – 3:40 p.m. CT (FOX)
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Giants/Washington – 8:15 p.m. CT (NBC)

Sunday

  • Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans – 12:05 p.m. CT (ESPN)
  • Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints – 3:40 p.m. CT (CBS)
  • Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – 7:15 p.m. (NBC)

If the Bears were to beat the Saints on Sunday, then they’d once again face the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round, and we all know how those two regular-season match-ups went.

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4 things the Bears need to do to beat the Packers in Week 17

While the Packers probably will win this game, there’s a chance that the Bears can actually shock the world with a win. Here’s how.

With a trip to the playoffs on the line, no one is giving the Chicago Bears a chance to defeat the Green Bay Packers in a pivotal Week 17 showdown. And while it’s true that the Packers should win this game, there’s a chance that the Bears can actually shock the world with a win.

But if that’s going to happen, this needs to be a collective effort — offense, defense, special teams, coaching — if Chicago is going to pull off the upset.

Here are four things the Bears need to do if they want to beat the Packers on Sunday.

Here’s how the Bears can clinch a playoff spot in Week 17

It’s hard to believe that the Bears are in a position to punch their ticket to the postseason. But if they win in Week 17, they’re in.

It’s hard to believe that the Chicago Bears are in a position to punch their ticket to the postseason. After all, not many teams can lose six straight games and live to tell the tale.

But here we are in the final week of the regular season with the Bears currently holding the No. 7 and final seed in the NFC with a chance to return to the postseason for the first time since 2018.

Even better, Chicago is in firm control of their playoff destiny, which is exactly how they should want it. If the Bears beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, then Chicago is in. If the Arizona Cardinals lose to the Los Angeles Rams, the Bears are in regardless. But it’s not wise to bank on what other teams are doing — Chicago needs to take care of business against a rival that has long had their number.

If the Bears can beat the Packers, there’s a chance they could be as high as the No. 6 seed if all goes right. But there’s also a chance that Chicago could wind up playing Green Bay in the first-round of the wild card playoffs if all goes wrong.

Should the Bears make the postseason — with a win or a Cardinals loss — they could wind up facing the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks or Packers in the first round. But that of course depends on what happens on Sunday with three other games.

But it’s simple — if the Bears win, they’re in. And that’s pretty remarkable considering where this team was just four weeks ago.

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5 New Year’s Resolutions for the Bears in 2021

There are plenty of things that the Bears need to address to better their football team.

There are plenty of things that the Bears need to address this offseason to better their football team for next season.

Week 17 Picks: Who are the experts taking in Bears vs. Packers?

The experts don’t have a lot of confidence in Chicago as 93% of experts are picking the Packers to beat the Bears in Week 17.

The Chicago Bears are looking to stamp their ticket to the playoffs with a victory over the Green Bay Packers in the final week of the regular season.

While the Bears can still get into the playoffs without a win — if the Arizona Cardinals lose to the Los Angeles Rams — it would certainly be sweeter to get to the postseason by beating the Packers.

Chicago is coming off a 41-17 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars, where the Bears offense put up 30 points for the fourth straight game. Chicago’s offense has been rolling over the last five weeks, and they’re going to need another strong performance if they’re going to have a shot at beating Green Bay.

Despite the Bears’ impressive offense and three-game win streak, there’s still not a lot of confidence in Chicago heading into this game as 93% of experts are picking the Bears to lose to the Packers on Sunday, according to NFL Pick Watch.

It’s not exactly a surprise that so many are picking Green Bay to beat Chicago, especially given the Packers’ dominance in this rivalry over the last couple of decades. Since 1992, Green Bay is 43-15 against Chicago, including 20-4 since 2009.

Can the Bears stun the football world with a win over the Packers? Or will Green Bay continue its dominance over Chicago?

We’ll see Sunday when the Bears and Packers kick things off at 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.

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Bears playoff push: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray says he’ll play Sunday vs. Rams

The Bears can get in the playoffs with a Cardinals loss. And Cardinals QB Kyler Murray insists he’ll play vs. Rams on Sunday.

The Chicago Bears are just one win away from securing a playoff berth in the NFC. They’ll face a Green Bay Packers team with plenty to play for, as they’re looking for the No. 1 seed, which includes a first-round bye and home field advantage.

But there’s still another path to the playoffs for Chicago if they happen to lose to Green Bay, which is going to require some help from the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams will host the Arizona Cardinals, who need to lose in order for the Bears to clinch that seventh seed.

While there was some uncertainty with Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s status — as he injured his lower leg on the final play of last Saturday’s loss against the San Francisco 49ers — Murray insists that he’ll suit up against the Rams on Sunday.

Which isn’t good news for the Bears, as the Rams will be without starting quarterback Jared Goff, who had surgery on his right thumb and will miss Week 17. That means it’s up to backup quarterback John Wolford to get it done…without receiver Cooper Kupp, who’s on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

The good news is that the Rams have a formidable defense that’s sure to give Murray and Arizona’s offense fits on Sunday. Look at what the 49ers did last week, where the defense frustrated Murray and that offense all game, and San Francisco came away with the win.

When all is said and done, the Bears ultimately control their own playoff destiny. If they win, they’re in. Simple as that. Even if that means slaying Goliath in a pivotal match-up against the Packers.

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The Bears have a chance to make history with a playoff berth in 2020

After a six-game losing streak, Chicago could become the third team in NFL history to make the playoffs after that skid.

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The Chicago Bears are just one win away from a playoff appearance, which is hard to believe considering this team lost six straight games and appeared poised to clean house after this season.

But the Bears have quickly turned the tide, thanks to their suddenly high-powered offense, winning three straight games and putting themselves in a position to make the postseason.

If Chicago locks up a coveted wild card spot in the NFC, they’ll be just the third NFL team since the merger to make the playoffs after a six-game losing streak, along with the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals and 2014 Carolina Panthers.

But to do that the Bears will need one of two things to happen — beat the Green Bay Packers or they need the Arizona Cardinals to lose to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Chicago’s track record against Green Bay is well-documented, and it’s not reassuring with MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers one win away from locking up the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.

Although relying on the Cardinals to lose to the Rams isn’t ideal either, especially with Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff will miss Sunday’s game after having surgery on his broken thumb. But Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray is also banged up, and his status for Sunday is in jeopardy.

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