Chicago Bears: 5 Bold predictions for Week 17 vs. Packers

Bold predictions for the Chicago Bears deciding finale against the Packers in Week 17.

After the Chicago Bears lost a heartbreaking game against the Detroit Lions back in Week 13, many people considered their slim playoff hopes to be gone. They led the entire game until quarterback Mitchell Trubisky fumbled the ball away late in the fourth quarter. The Lions took over deep in Bears’ territory and took two plays to punch it into the end zone.

The loss left Chicago with a 5-7 record, behind the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals for the final playoff seed. With four games remaining the Bears had to leapfrog over two teams. That wasn’t likely.

After their win against the Houston Texans and the Vikings’ loss, their Week 15 matchup was a do-or-die to stay in the playoff picture. The Bears beat the Vikings and their slim hopes were still alive.

Then the Week 16 weekend happened. The Cardinals faced a depleted San Francisco 49ers. Arizona was a game ahead of the Bears but if they finish tied, the Bears own the tie-breaker. San Francisco did the Bears the ultimate favor by upsetting the Cardinals. Now all the Bears needed to do was beat the 1-13 Jacksonville Jaguars.

After a shaky first half, the Bears scored three touchdowns in the dreaded third quarter (they had two total touchdowns in that quarter all season coming into the game) to ease the tension. Chicago won 41-17 and suddenly, incredibly, they find themselves owning the final playoff spot and control of their playoff destiny. All they have to do is win this week and they’re in. No problem, right?

Well, that last game is against the hated Green Bay Packers, the team that owns the Chicago Bears. The Packers beat the Bears in eight of their last nine matchups over the past five seasons. That includes a 41-25 drubbing that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. It was Trubisky’s first game back after his benching and he committed three turnovers. The defense gave up touchdowns on five of the Packers’ seven drives. It was an ugly sight.

The Bears look like a different team now, however. The offense scored 30+ points in four straight weeks, something they haven’t done since 1965. Now that they have a hold of that playoff spot, this is one inspired team. It won’t be easy, though, since the Packers also have something to play for. Only one team gets an opening-round bye and a win by Green Bay clinches that for them. It will be an intense game.

Here are five bold predictions for this big game.

5. Graham finds a way to hurt his old team

The Chicago Bears took a beating when they signed free-agent tight end Jimmy Graham. Many felt he was washed up and the addition wouldn’t shore up one of the worst tight end units in the NFL in 2019.

That tight end unit had just 46 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns. The tight end needs to be of help to the quarterback, especially in the red zone. Having a big body to target is crucial for success and the Bears lacked that in 2019.

Well, the Graham signing certainly looks better now. Graham by himself has 48 catches for 451 yards and a whopping eight touchdowns. He has that despite having two games in which he didn’t have a catch and one in which he only had one catch.

The other aspect of Graham that has helped the Bears is his mentorship of rookie Cole Kmet. Despite Kmet being the player who will replace him, Graham took the young tight end under his wings. He’s helped him learn what to expect and how to handle himself and the youngster has been playing pretty well himself.

Graham still has another year on his contract but the Bears, having salary cap troubles, could save $7 million by letting him go. That is a likely scenario if the Bears feel Kmet is ready to become the starter.

There is still at least one game left in this season, however. Graham could haunt his old team. He played for Green Bay in 2018 and 2019. His eight touchdown catches this season are more than he had in his two seasons in Green Bay combined (5).

Graham would like to make it to the playoffs before he retires. His time is coming soon so perhaps this is his only shot. To do it and do it against his former team? That would be the icing on the cake.

Prediction: 4 catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.