Wildcard around Preview: Bears vs Saints

         Wildcard Round Preview: Saints vs Bears        

      The Saints look to do all their wrongs in the last couple playoffs right in 2020 but their first matchup is Khalil Mack’s Bears at 4:40 est in the Wildcard round. On Sunday night Week 17 when the Bears lost to long time division rival Packers they were moved to 8-8, and somehow clinched a wild card spot. A year ago they would of missed the playoffs but it’s not often you make the playoffs after a loss in a big time game. However with the loss of the Cardinals against the Rams the Bears sneak into the 2020 NFL Playoffs. Many believe the Bears can cause problems for the Saints with their pass rush. The Bears have had a disappointing season but they still have stars and notable names on defense with Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, Danny Trevathan, Robert Quinn, Eddie Jackson, Akiem Hicks, and Kyle Fuller. In my opinion don’t really think the Bears have much of chance expect for the pass rush, but also think the Saints have the style to beat that pass rush. Early in the season when the Bears upset the Buccaneers they were in Tom Brady’s face all day, and the defense won the game for the Bears. That will be the same game plan with Drew Brews. An older quarterback, can’t throw it like when he was 30, can’t go over the top, a lot of screens, slants, and RPOs. That plays into the Bears hand because they can force mistakes with Brees not being able to move much. However whatever the Bears defense can do in 2020 apparently the Saints defense can too. The Bears are 5th in not allowing the other team to score the Saints rank 14th. That’s the only category on defense of the major ones that the Bears outweighs the Saints in. The Saints have better stats in rush defense, pass defense, and total defense. The Bears defense isn’t the game changer in 2020 like most think.   Don’t get me wrong DA Bears defense is very good but not that much better than New Orleans to say the Saints defense can’t do what their defense can do. Also since New Orleans can cause pressure my bet would be that Mitch Turbisky is more prone to a mistake than Drew Brees in the Wildcard matchup. The Bears strategy will be run David Montgomery hard, when they have to throw expect slants, screens, RPOs, play action with Trubisky going in a boot. Matt Nagy limits Turbisky mistakes well. Sean Payton however does the same with Brees. Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara are definitely better than David Montgomery and Allen Robinson though. The Bears also have a very bad offensive line. The Saints defensive line lead by Cam Jordan will be all up in Turbisky business like the Bears hope Mack can do with Brees. For the Bears to have hope they have to score in the red zone they went to the red zone five times against Green Bay scored one touchdown that’s why they lost. Cant do that in this one either because the Saints will score when down in the red zone. My prediction is Saints have similar styles but the Saints are much better at it. Saints roll over the Bears 24-10. 

By Matthew Doherty