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The Chicago Bears’ playoff hopes are minuscule as they enter Sunday’s home finale against the Atlanta Falcons — a team with a one-game lead over the Bears and slightly higher hopes in the playoff picture (though not by much).
All the Bears can do at this point is hope they win the season’s final two games and let the universe somehow come to their aid. Not only will this be the last home game for the 2023 Chicago Bears, it could also be Justin Fields’ last game on the lakefront while wearing a Chicago Bears uniform. It should make for a pretty interesting day, even if both teams may ultimately not make the playoffs.
Here’s how we see this one shaking out …
The Falcons have been extremely hard to figure out in the midst of a disappointing season. To me, the Bears have the most consistent unit in this matchup with their defense, so the safest bet is that Atlanta won’t score many points. On the other hand, the Falcons’ defense is much better than the Cardinals’ defense and the Bears’ offensive struggles in the second half last week left a bitter taste in my mouth. I expect an early Bears touchdown, but a slugfest the rest of the way on a cold day at Soldier Field.
This could be Justin Fields’ last game at Soldier Field on Sunday against the Falcons. Although the season has not gone the way the Bears wanted, I think Fields ends this final home game of 2023 with style. Fields connects with DJ Moore for some explosive plays through the air and Fields gets his second 100-yard game rushing. The Bears’ No. 1. ranked rush defense stops Bijan Robinson and the Falcons’ rushing attack.
The Bears defense heats up against Taylor Heinicke and the passing attack. Huge game from Montez Sweat. Rush and Cover! Bears offense gets the rushing attack going and works the play action off it.
Low-scoring affair with temperatures finally dropping in the last home game of the season. Bears struggle to score offensively with Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet on the shelf but get a lift from their defense with a couple more interceptions, including a pick 6 from Eddie Jackson.
It won’t be sexy and the defense will account for 10 of the Bears 23, but in the final home game of 2023 the Bears deal a fatal blow to the Falcons’ playoff chances.
The Bears continue to stack wins at home, which is a nice development this season. The defense makes it a bad New Year’s Eve for Taylor Heinicke and the Falcons and sets the offense up with a short field on at least two occasions.
Stacking a fifth straight home win has somehow become normalized. It’s hard to imagine the Bears ever losing at Soldier Field again.
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