*!LiveStream#? Bears vs Saints, @Live®
*!LiveStream#? Bears vs Saints, @Live®
Live Now:: https://tinyurl.com/y2pjvpl9
Live Now:: https://tinyurl.com/y2pjvpl9
he New Orleans Saints (12–4) start their run to Super Bowl LV this weekend as they host the Chicago Bears (8–8) for the 2021 NFC Wild Card game inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Sunday will be the second meeting this season between the two sides, the first coming at Soldier Field in Week 8. New Orleans was victorious in overtime, 26–23. As the two NFC foes ready for a loser goes home battle, here are three things to watch leading up to and during Sunday’s NFC Wild Card matchup.
As the Injury Report Shortens…Who’s In? Who’s Out?
Despite losing their entire running backs room and positional coach for Week 17 because of Alvin Kamara’s positive COVID-19 test and contract tracing, the Saints won in blowout fashion against the Panthers. The decisive victory over their division rivals, without key players on both sides of the ball, proved the Saints have one of the deepest rosters in football. However, reinforcements are on the way for the Saints as they continue to return to health right in time for the playoffs.
John Hendrix reported that both WRs Michael Thomas and WR Deonte Harris returned to practice this week. Neither player carries an injury designation as they return from injured reserve and are in the three-week activation window.
The Saints should also be returning critical pieces to the defense ahead of Wild-Card weekend. Defensive backs C.J Gardner-Johnson a.k.a ‘Ceedy Duce’ and D.J Swearinger’s return is expected from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Fellow safety Marcus Williams was a participant in this week’s practice.
The Chicago Bears face a New Orleans Saints franchise that has won the last six match-ups between the two teams, including a 26–23 overtime win this year. But if we’re talking just the postseason, then the Bears are 2–0 all-time against the Saints.
The Bears beat the Saints in 1991 behind the 236 combined scrimmage yards from Neal Anderson and Brad Muster, and they knocked them off in 2006 with Thomas Jones going off for 123 rushing yards on 19 carries and 2 touchdowns.
In order to take that playoff record to 3–0 the Bears will need to play mistake free football and hope for a little luck along the way.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Bears vs Saints game.
When is the game?
Sunday, January 10 at 3:40 p.m. Central
Where is the game?
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Weather
The game is in a dome, so weather will not be a factor.
How to watch!
If you live anywhere in the map below you get the game on CBS with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on the call.
Wide receiver Allen Robinson has been the Bears’ most consistent offensive player this season, with 102 receptions for 1,250 yards and six touchdowns. But he met his match last week against Packers All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander, who held Robinson without a catch until late in the third quarter. A week after Robinson had 10 catches for 103 yards against the Jaguars, he finished with two catches for 37 yards against the Packers.
Facing Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore on Sunday might be a breath of fresh air. Lattimore is outstanding; he has made the Pro Bowl in three of his four NFL seasons. But Robinson had six receptions for 87 yards against the Saints in Week 8 and burned Lattimore for a 24-yard touchdown that gave the Bears a 10–3 lead in an eventual 26–23 overtime loss at Solider Field.
“I’ve played against Lattimore a couple of times in my career, so I have a good feel for him . . . for what he likes to do,” Robinson said. “He’s a great player in this league, so it’s going to be a battle out there. I just go out there and do what I do.”
Trending
In the overtime game Nov. 1, the Bears’ defense held the Saints to one touchdown in four trips to the red zone and allowed just 2 of 13 third-down conversions — ranking first in the NFL in both categories.
In the eight games since, the Bears rank 31st in both categories, allowing 17 touchdowns in 23 trips to the red zone (73.9%) and 49 of 96 third-down conversions (51%). It will be tough to win if either of those trends doesn’t sharply improve Sunday.
Player to watch
Bears wide receiver Anthony Miller — an enigma since the Bears traded into the second round to draft him in 2018 — has been overshadowed by fifth-round rookie Darnell Mooney this season. In fact, Mooney had 13 targets against the Packers while Alexander was shutting down Robinson.
But with Mooney out for Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, Miller will be the secondary receiver threat against the second-seeded Saints. He’s fully capable — he had eight receptions for 73 yards against the Saints in Week 8 — and always has big-play, difference-making potential when he gets his hands on the ball. But he hasn’t done that consistently enough this season.
X-factor
Facing the Saints in a playoff game at the Superdome generally is a daunting task, although the Vikings managed it well last year in a 26–20 overtime victory. With fewer than 5,000 fans expected because of coronavirus regulations, the Bears at least won’t have to battle the intimidating crowd noise that often makes it difficult for road teams to run their offenses. Everybody has a fighting chance in domes this season.
