The Chicago Bears will be focused on beating the Green Bay Packers today. That is their best chance to guarantee a trip into the playoffs for the second time in three years. However, it’s not hard to understand why fans and media aren’t exactly confident they can do it. Green Bay has had their number for years. They’re the best team in the NFC and still have a lot to play for in regards to clinching the #1 seed.
That is why many will be watching the game between the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals at the same time. The winner of that contest could dictate whether the Bears make the playoffs or not. If the Rams win, it knocks Arizona down to 8-8. This means it wouldn’t matter if the Bears lose. They own the tiebreakers against the Cardinals and would automatically clinch the final playoff spot.
If the Cardinals win? Then the Bears’ only hope is beating the Packers.
So yeah. Most people believe Chicago’s best hope is L.A. taking down Arizona. The problem is that is looking dicey. Starting quarterback Jared Goff dislocated his thumb last week and is out for the game. Star receiver Cooper Kupp contracted COVID-19. Top running back Darrell Henderson was placed on IR with a high ankle sprain. They’re a banged-up team.
However, the subplots to this game continue to get crazier. The Rams aren’t the only team who seem to be losing key bodies. Arizona got hit with two pieces of bad news. Ageless star Larry Fitzgerald isn’t expected to play in the game due to a groin injury. On top of that, fellow starter Christian Kirk is also out due to COVID-19. Just like that Kyler Murray will be without two of his top three receiving weapons against the #1 pass defense in the NFL.
Cardinals are not optimistic that WR Larry Fitzgerald, listed as questionable with a groin injury, will be able to play vs the Rams, per source. With Christian Kirk out, Fitzgerald could try to surprise Arizona. But the team was not counting on having him available.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2021
Chicago Bears wisely won’t be scoreboard watching today
Head coach Matt Nagy is making sure of that. He wants his players completely focused on Green Bay. So he has made sure the scoreboards inside Soldier Field won’t be showing the score between the Rams and Cardinals. No distractions. All that matters is what they do on the field. They can’t afford to rely on help from others. Nagy understands this.
In regards to who will win that game? It’s difficult to say. The Rams beat the Cardinals in their first meeting a few weeks ago 38-28. Yet it’s obvious neither team is as healthy as it was back then. L.A. has seen their offense cool down considerably in recent weeks. Arizona has suffered from too many mistakes, turning it over five times in the past two games. They have the healthier QB but the Rams have the better defense.
One can also say the battle of coaching minds goes in favor of the Rams.
Sean McVay is a former Coach of the Year and has never had a losing record in his tenure running the team. Kliff Kingsbury has offensive chops but his defenses always underperform and his team is 3-5 since the bye week. L.A. has a better defense by far. It will come down to whether they can get enough points out of backup QB John Wolford. The Chicago Bears better hope that ends up being the case.