Chicago Bears suffer another frustrating loss but get into playoffs

The Chicago Bears had another frustrating loss but Arizona helped them still make the playoffs.

There is some good news and bad news coming from Sunday’s Week 17 games. The bad news is that the Chicago Bears suffered another frustrating loss to the Green Bay Packers when they needed a win the most. The Packers continue to show their dominance over Chicago, winning their ninth game in the last 10 attempts. They’ve also beaten the Bears five of the six times they played with Matt Nagy as the head coach.

The good news, however, is that the Los Angeles Rams beating the Arizona Cardinals allows the Bears to sneak into the 2021 NFL Playoffs as the final Wild Card team in the NFC. They didn’t make it the way they preferred but a playoff berth is a playoff berth.

To those complaining about making the playoffs and messing up their draft position, the best the Bears could’ve finished in the draft order was 16th, so making the playoffs is a good thing.

More of the same for the Chicago Bears against the Packers

This game was more of the same for the Bears against the Packers. While for most of the game it was closer than the blowout loss they suffered in Week 12, it might have been more frustrating. Chicago was in the game into the fourth quarter until a failed fourth-down conversion.

The Bears started out the game marching 60 yards on 14 plays, taking 7:29 off the clock. However, the Packers did the same thing on their first drive, going 64 yards on 12 plays, knocking 7:36 off the clock. After one quarter, both teams had just one drive. If it meant keeping Aaron Rodgers on the bench, the Bears would accept that anytime.

That didn’t work out for the Bears, though. The Packers had just three drives in the entire first half and scored touchdowns on all of them. In fact, Rodgers threw just 10 passes but completed them all, and three of them were touchdowns. Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky completed 14 of his 17 passes, but for only 84 yards and he had no touchdown passes. The Packers held a 21-13 lead at the half.

The Bears defense did a better job on Rodgers in the third quarter, but part of that was because Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped an easy bomb that hit him perfectly in stride. He had at least five yards on Duke Shelley and the play was a sure touchdown.

Additionally, the Bears missed out on three interceptions. All three of those Rodgers passes hit them on their hands but they weren’t able to hang onto the ball. When going up against Rodgers, you need to make those plays when they come up.

The Bears added another field goal in the third to make it 21-16 and were driving late in the third and into the fourth. They converted four fourth downs, two on this drive. On their last try, however, they failed to convert. They went 51 yards on 15 plays and took 8:04 off the clock, but finished with no points.

The Packers, on the other hand, took over and went 76 yards on 12 plays, taking 7:35 off the clock. They finished the drive with another touchdown, essentially sealing the game with a 28-16 lead.

Trubisky again makes another critical mistake

The Bears thought they still had time to come back but Trubisky threw an ill-advised pass that former Chicago Bears safety Adrian Amos intercepted. The Packers took over on the Bears’ 26-yard line and, of course, culminated the drive with another touchdown.

This continues to be a Trubisky trait. He continues to throw interceptions in the end zone or interceptions at very bad times. Yes, he has improved since coming back from his benching, but he still makes these bad plays.

Watching this game you see the difference between the two teams. The Bears movement down the field was a grind and settled for field goals. Meanwhile, Rodgers and the Packers hit big plays and scored touchdowns with ease. The Bears scored four times, but three of them were field goals. The Packers, on the other hand, scored five times, all of them touchdowns. That results in a Chicago loss by a score of 35-16.

Yes, the three-game winning streak was fun but it isn’t enough for the Bears to reward Trubisky with a new contract.

Chicago Bears still sneak into the playoffs

As mentioned earlier, with the Cards’ loss, the Bears still made it into the playoffs. The Bears and Cardinals finished 8-8, but the Bears owned the tie-breaker. As a result, Chicago travels to New Orleans to face the Saints next Sunday in the late afternoon game (4:40 p.m. ET). Say what you will, but getting into the playoffs is always a good thing.

There have been reports about Nagy being fired but with the late winning streak and making the playoffs for the second time in his three years as Chicago Bears coach, he probably survives and returns next season.

Yes, the Bears likely lose, but crazier things have happened. That is especially true with the Saints. They’ve had plenty of playoff games they should have won but didn’t. Starting the playoffs, everyone is 0-0 so everything gets reset.

I’m not saying that will happen, but teams that weren’t supposed to win have. Let’s take a look at the 2010-11 season where the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks beat the defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints. Remember, also, the 8-8 Denver Broncos beat the 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2012 playoffs Wild Card game. The Bears finished 8-8 and the Saints finished… 12-4. Also, the 2018 Bears were supposed to beat the Philadelphia Eagles but that didn’t happen.

Again, this isn’t to say that the same will happen. However, this is what makes the playoffs so much fun. We don’t know how teams react in the playoffs. Even veterans make mistakes under the pressure of the playoffs. It could happen again.