Bears vs. 49ers Prediction: Playoff atmosphere before the playoffs |
Dustin Riese
· · 1 hour ago
It's hard to believe that by next Sunday, the NFL season will be over and the playoffs will be set to kick off. Chicago, at the very least, knows they will be in the playoff field, as they have at least three games remaining this season, with hopes of playing at least five or six more, depending on seeding.
This week pits the Bears in another playoff-like atmosphere, which is what you want this time of year, as Chicago will look to not only maintain its advantage as the NFC's No. 2 seed but also clinch the NFC North with a win. If you thought last week's matchup against the Packers was a big game, this one could be even bigger as the Bears will hit the road for the final time against the San Francisco 49ers. Another team that has already clinched a playoff berth, the 49ers are coming into this game as the NFC's No.5 seed and are sporting an identical 11-4 record as the Bears. What makes this such an important game for both teams is that both are still in contention for the No. 1 seed, as the 49ers would take over the No. 1 seed should they win out. The same can be said about the Bears should they win out, but they would need more help along the way. Either way, these are the types of moments you live for as a player and a team, and the atmosphere this weekend is going to feel like a playoff game, which is what these teams are preparing for. Get ready for another exciting weekend of football, as these are some of the things to look for ahead of week 17.
While the Bears have already guaranteed themselves a spot in the postseason, they would love to clinch the NFC North to earn at least one home playoff game. With a 1.5 game lead and two games to play, the Bears can clinch the NFC North with a win. Doing that on the road against the 49ers isn't going to be easy, but it's a task the Bears are more than ready for, as they don't want to put the division on the line in week 18, knowing the Detroit Lions are going to be coming in to play spoiler. The sooner the Bears can take care of their business and get a sense of where they will be seeded, the better, as it will allow them to rest some of their players in week 18 should they feel the need to. Update: Bears have already clinched division after the Packers' loss to the Ravens
When the Bears drafted both Caleb Williams and Torey Taylor last season, Williams went on record to tell Taylor that he wouldn't be needed to punt too much. That comment didn't age well last season, but at least it's aging much better this season, as Taylor is punting far less than he did a year ago. However, when it comes to the 49ers, they have taken the definition of not punting too much to a whole new level, to the point where they don't even need to carry a punter on their active roster. Look no further than what Thomas Morstead is going through right now, as he went another game without attempting a punt on Monday night. Going further than that, Morstead hasn't even attempted a punt since November, which is nearly impossible to believe. That shows you just how efficient and good this 49ers offense has been as of late, as Kyle Shanahan has these boys clicking on all cylinders on that side of the ball. Containing this offense is going to be a tall task for the Bears and one that not many teams have been able to do as of late. As long as the Bears bend but don't break, they should be fine. Forcing at least one Punt in this game would be an improvement and would be more than most teams have been able to do this season.
While the Bears may not have a true No. 1 Wide Receiver, they do have three guys capable of making plays and putting up massive games. The only problem has been the health of those guys, as Rome Odunze has missed the past few games with a foot injury, while Luther Burden was out week 16 with an ankle injury. Their absence from this offense was felt throughout Saturday's win against the Packers, as the passing game never took off until late. You may be able to get away with that from time to time, but that is not a way to live in the NFL, as the Bears are going to need these guys to get healthy in a hurry if they want to make a deep playoff run. Chicago did receive some good news on Burden: he appears to be trending toward playing this weekend, which would be a massive boost for the passing game. Odunze remains the question as there is a real chance the Bears sit him until the playoffs.
When it comes to big games with massive playoff implications, this one falls into that category, as this is as big as it gets. Not only are both teams playing for the division title, but they are also playing for that first-round bye, as homefield advantage is on the line for both. One loss for either of them and homefield advantage goes out the window, but a loss for the 49ers takes them out of the division hunt, whereas the Bears would still hold the top spot in the NFC North. This is one of those games that will come down to who can make the big plays when it counts and which team can capitalize on their opponents' mistakes. That is something both have done well with this season, which is why they are sitting at 11-4 and rank near the top of the NFC. As good as the Bears have been playing, the 49ers are arguably playing the best football in the league right now and could be the favorites to come out of the NFC. Expect a highly competitive game, but it's the 49ers putting an end to the Bears' winning streak with a 24-17 win.Win and clinch
One Punt that is all we ask for
All eyes on Odunze and Burden
Prediction: 49ers win 24-17
