Predicting every game of the 2021 NFL Playoffs

NFC Wild Card: Chicago Bears (7) at New Orleans Saints (2)

Congratulations to the Bears for sneaking their way into the playoffs. They only made it because of the new postseason format and the fact that the Arizona Cardinals were defeated by the Rams in the final week of the season. Chicago couldn’t even punch its own ticket.

Meanwhile, the Saints have been cruising on their way to the playoffs. They even secured the No. 2 seed with a thrashing of the Carolina Panthers in Week 17. Although Drew Brees has had his issues with injury this season, New Orleans is simply too explosive right now to be beaten by a lackluster Bears team.

With that said, Chicago could at least make this one interesting. I don’t trust Mitchell Trubisky to light it up, but the Bears defense has played exceptionally well at times in 2020. They’ll do what they can to put pressure on Brees and keep Alvin Kamara from having another career day, but that doesn’t mean they’ll get enough support from the offense to make it matter.

The Saints come into the playoffs looking like one of the best teams in the NFC. As for the Bears, they’re just lucky to not be watching from the comfort of home. Chicago keeps it close through the first half, but a second-half surge by New Orleans books their trip to the next round.

Prediction: Saints win 34-23