The Cardiac Bears continue to be a thing, as the Bears beat the Packers in thrilling fashion and sent their biggest rival packing. The Bears’ offense stepped up when it absolutely needed to, and the Bears’ defense was arguably the best unit on the field, shutting out the Packers’ offense in the second half until late in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t a perfect game, but the Bears were perfect when they needed to be.
Here is how my expectations for the Bears’ third meeting with the Packers this season played out:
The Bears offense will finally get off to a hot start
“The biggest key to the game has to be the Bears getting to a hot start to the playoffs. The Bears can not afford another slow start, and it could lessen confidence for this young team and give all the confidence in the world to the Green Bay Packers. The Bears need to dominate this game early and set the tone. Lean on the run game, and give Caleb Williams confidence early. Nobody has any doubt in this game late in games. The biggest reason the Bears could lose this game is how they start it, not how they finish. I think for the first time in quite some time, the Bears start the game hot and get a touchdown on their opening drive. That will show their rival, the Green Bay Packers, that this game will be a long one.”
I think is safe to say that this team is just not a hot start team. I don’t think it is in their identity this season. There have just been too many cases of them coming out slowly. It takes time for them to get going, but as the playoffs continue, they have to be better in that regard.
Caleb Williams will prove he is better than Jordan Love
“Caleb Williams has shown he can be elite in the most important time of the game all season long. He has outplayed some good quarterbacks down the stretch. Against the Packers, I think he puts up his best game yet and a fully complete showing. I think Caleb will complement how great he is down the stretch in this one with a stellar first half. If Caleb can be exactly what he was against the 49ers, the Bears will win this game convincingly. I think Caleb will do exactly that, getting close to 300 yards passing and finding 3 different pass catchers for a touchdown. If Caleb does what I think he will, he will then open the discussion for whether or not he is the best quarterback in the division.”
Jordan Love had a perfect game, and he was not the reason the Packers came up short by any means. Love threw for 323 yards passing and 4 passing touchdowns. Still with two interceptions, I think Caleb Williams did, in fact, prove he was better. Love looked elite, and he was efficient. Caleb Williams looked like a star, and he made throws that not too many quarterbacks can make. He overcame so much in this game, and he finished throwing for 363 yards in this game. Caleb Williams led his team to a 25-point 4th quarter, while Love could only muster6 points in the clutch. Caleb was, and I think he will be the better quarterback moving forward.
The Bears’ young pass catchers will step up
“The Bears’ young pass catchers have been preparing for this moment all season long. Colston Loveland has now had at least 90 yards, 10 catches, and 1 touchdown in the last two games. I think he will do that again against the Packers. Luther Burden was the best player on the field for the Bears against the 49ers. I think he will be in for a big game. Mr. Packer killer himself, D.J. Moore, in my opinion, will have at least 50 yards receiving. I think Caleb will spread the ball around, and both he and Ben Johnson will be aggressive in this game. The return of Rome Odunze will be huge and take pressure off the other receivers. I think Rome will not be super dominant in this game, but I believe he finds the endzone. It will be another showing where a big takeaway from this game will be that the Bears have playmakers that are just as good as any team in the NFL.”
Colston Loveland looked like the best tight end in the league in this game. The Packers knew who the ball was going to, and there was still nothing they could do about it. Loveland had 8 catches for 137 yards, proving he is the Bears best guy and Caleb Williams most reliable weapon. Odunze showed up with the biggest catch of the game on 4th and 8 in his return from injury. Luther Burden also reeled in 44 yards on 3 catches. Caleb spread the ball all around to his playmakers, and they didn’t disappoint him. D.J. Moore, the veteran in this room, once again had his big moment with another game-winning touchdown versus Green Bay. Moore also chipped in 64 yards receiving, proving to be a top playmaker in this offense.
The Bears’ run game will get back to its dominance
“The Baltimore Ravens dominated the Packers solely because of Derrick Henry having his way. The Bears do not have a Derrick Henry, but their two-headed monster in D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai are just as lethal. I expect this run game to be a priority against the Packers and a huge focal point to start the game. The Bears wills et the tone with the run game on the first drive and be able to open up the playbook the rest of the game because of that. I expect Swift and Monangai to combine for a dominant day on the ground.”
The Bears got away from their run game once again, and being down a lot early really gave the Bears no choice but to push the ball down the field through the air. Thankfully, the Bears’ passing attack was on the money, and Caleb Williams and his pass catchers delivered.
Bears will go 2-1 on the Packers on the season and send the Packers packing
“The opportunity for the Bears to kill long-lasting narratives about this rivalry is right there in front of them on Saturday night. The Bears have gone 2-1 in their last three games against the Packers. Beating the Packers twice in one season, just like Ben Johnson said he likes to do, will be such a cool feat. To make matters even more meaningful, the Bears will be able to end the Packers’ season at home. The Bears will no longer be owned by the Packers, and they will take full control over the rivalry with a win on Saturday. Regardless of what happens for the rest of the playoffs, if the Beats win Saturday, it will feel like they just won the Super Bowl. I thought it would be impossible to top the Bears’ win against the Packers in overtime, but the Bears could very well do that Saturday, just by winning the football game.”
The Bears did go 2-1 versus the Packers, and this team delivered their nemesis two of the more devastating losses that have occurred this NFL season. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson are really bringing back the Bears’ dominance in this rivalry. The Packers and this team delivered their nemesis two of the most devastating losses that have occurred, and this is a team that now believes they have the upper hand. Getting those two major wins this season and sending the Packers home in the playoffs really makes up for how lopsided this rivalry used to be.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Caleb Williams and Bears resort to old ways to pull off playoff win
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
