The Chicago Bears have rarely controlled their own playoff destiny in the past. For the first time in years, that’s no longer the case. Having already locked up the NFC North crown, this team is sitting pretty going into the postseason. They’re guaranteed the #3 seed and at least one home game at Soldier Field. Where it gets interesting is what can transpire in the season finale.
Some people have called for the head coach Matt Nagy to do the cautious thing and rest the starters against Minnesota. While it would virtually guarantee handing a division rival a trip to the playoffs, which the Vikings need a win to get, it would avoid any injuries to key players they’ll need for the run in January.
Then again that scenario would only be feasible if the Bears had nothing left to play for. As it turns out they do. The #2 seed is still within reach for Chicago. If they can win on Sunday and the Rams happen to get upset by San Francisco, the two teams would switch places courtesy of a tiebreaker.
It’s that lifeline that Philadelphia Eagles fans are clinging to.
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Philly faithful are pleading for the Chicago Bears to go for the win
The defending Super Bowl champions are 8-7 on the season. Their window to the playoffs has come down to two parts. They have to beat Washington and they need Chicago to take down the Vikings. That’s why they’re praying the lure of the #2 seed and a bye will be enough to entice Nagy to play his starters and go for the win.
Might be a bigger Bears fan than Eagles fan this week
— jb (@jberrrrr) December 24, 2018
Doug was asked if he would call Bears coach Matt Nagy — who he worked with from 2009-2015 with both the Eagles and Chiefs — and ask for help Sunday:
"Maybe I already did this morning."
— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) December 24, 2018
“Will The Bears be playing their starters next week?”
Me: pic.twitter.com/qyauVoqzTa— Eagles Updates (@EaglesUpdates17) December 23, 2018
All I want for Christmas is the bears to win Sunday and the eagles. Please❤️
— ❔JB❔ (@JB22S) December 24, 2018
I hope Nagy feels the same. #GoBears #FlyEaglesFly https://t.co/kxVuGhQss9
— Aaron Palacios (@Anpalacios5) December 25, 2018
Truth be told a ton of this depends on San Francisco. The Bears and Rams will be playing at the same time. This means Chicago will likely be watching the scoreboard carefully. If the 49ers fall behind big and the Bears are trailing in Minnesota, it’s possible Nagy may choose to pull his starters in the second half rather than pursue a pointless win at that point. The 49ers, banged up as they are, need to at least keep it interesting.
That may not be good enough for Eagles fans, but then again it’s their own teams’ fault for being in this situation to begin with. Then again, this sort of win would be momentous considering the Bears haven’t beaten the Vikings in their dome since 2011.
