Chicago Bears, NFC East, NFC North, Philadelphia Eagles

2018 NFC Wild Card Game Philadelphia Eagles v Chicago Bears

NFC Wild Card Game North v East

Who saw this one coming pre-season? Thought not – first we have the surprise team of the season in the Bears who were expected to need another year or so before competing in the NFC North, however a combination of injuries and dysfunctionality in Green Bay meant that they cruised to an easy divisional win with a 12-4 record. This after starting 3-3. Chicago did draft pretty well and must have decided they were in win-now mode when adding Allen Robinson in free agency, then giving up their next two 1st round draft picks to add Khalil Mack to an already pretty good defence. These free agency moves really has made the difference.

They come into this as justifiable favourites against the reigning champions, who limped into the postseason at 9-7 thanks to three season-ending wins, which included beating the LA Rams away. They looked down and out at 4-6 coming off the back of a good old beat down by the Saints, however a combination of close wins coupled with results going their way elsewhere left them no 6 seeds and they can thank back up QB extraordinaire Nick Foles who came in for those last three crucial games when Carson Wenz went down again. He was the MVP in last years Super Bowl and we are surprised that he is not a starter elsewhere. The Eagles look to have hit form at just the right time and they have playoff experience which is lacking in Chicago (2010 was the last time they made the postseason).

This is a hard game to call as far as we are concerned however the oddsmakers think differently having the Bears 6.5 points favourite. Overall we think that the Eagles have hit form at just the right time and will keep this one close, however, we think the Bears have built a quality squad and they will edge this one but not by the spread.

Chicago Bears to win 31-28

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