Chicago Bears: Three biggest matchups against Eagles

Matchup No. 2: Mitch Trubisky against the Eagles defense

Controlling the pace of the game has been a defining part of the Bears success on offense this season.

That cannot stop on Sunday. Mitch Trubisky and the offense need to come out firing against the Eagles defense, putting the speed of the game in their hands from the first quarter on.

This is the first playoff game for almost everybody on the Bears team, and most notably, number ten.

Nothing can possibly prepare a quarterback for his first taste of a playoff atmosphere, and Sunday is going to be difficult for Trubisky regardless of preparation.

However, the Bears can make it worlds easier for Trubisky by getting ahead early, and thus taking pressure off of their young quarterback for the last three quarters. Trubisky certainly hasn’t shown any tendency to back down when behind or in clutch situations, but the playoffs are a whole different animal.

In addition to making life easier for the offense, controlling the pace of the game will be incredibly important for the Bears defense as well. The Eagles offense is already at a massive disadvantage against the Bears defense, and by forcing them to come from behind, Nick Foles will be forced to make plays that he, in all likelihood, cannot.

The game can get out of hand easily when the tempo isn’t where the Bears are accustomed. By grabbing ahold of the speed of the game early on, the Bears will make Sunday’s game a whole lot easier.