The Chicago Bears wrapped up the regular season with a loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. But while their Week 18 matchup was disappointing, they still earned the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and a date with the Green Bay Packers.
The rubber match between the Packers and the Bears will be one of the most anticipated games of Wild Card weekend, and the Bears will look to banish their division rival for their first playoff win since 2010. Although the hype will build throughout the week, the Bears may be disappointed when they learned they will host the Packers at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday.
The Bears have done well to put themselves in this position, finishing with an 11-6 record and winning their first division title since 2018. But playing a playoff game on a short week is a disadvantage that’s amplified with the extra weight Chicago is carrying into the playoffs.
Bears’ Saturday Kickoff Poses Big Disadvantage vs. Packers
While Chicago is the higher seed, playing the game on Saturday has them opening as a 1.5-point underdog on FanDuel Sportsbook due to the injuries they’re facing. Rome Odunze hasn’t played since Week 12 due to a stress fracture in his foot, and while he’s had plenty of rest, having an extra day would have ensured he didn’t have another setback similar to when he tried to return for a Week 15 victory over the Cleveland Browns but couldn’t make it through warmups.
The Bears also have an injury concern with left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who missed Sunday’s loss to the Lions due to knee and quad injuries. With the Bears’ carousel at left tackle being one of the biggest storylines of the season, an extra day would have made sure he’s ready to go, even though Chicago played it safe with him by holding him out against the Lions.
Every team has injuries at this point of the season, and Green Bay’s four-game losing streak began when Micah Parsons tore his ACL in a Week 15 loss to the Denver Broncos. But the Packers have an added advantage after resting their players in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
It’s also a drag considering the Bears played with integrity going into the final game of the season. While some may point out that Chicago was playing for the No. 2 seed, head coach Ben Johnson noted after Sunday’s game that he may have played his starters regardless, proudly stating that “We play football” (h/t @DepBearsFan) when addressing the decision during his postgame press conference.
With both of the previous meetings coming down to the final play, things like this will matter as part of a heated matchup on Saturday night. If the Bears come up short, the scheduling could be brought up as a reason their storybook season comes to a disappointing end.