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For the fourth straight year, the New Orleans Saints will enter the postseason looking to win the Super Bowl, and this time, they hope that their playoff run will not end in heartbreak like it did in the last three seasons.
After being on the receiving end of the Minneapolis Miracle, the Saints lost in overtime to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game after a missed pass interference call, and then suffered another overtime loss against the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round last season.
Now, after a year that saw quarterback Drew Brees miss four games and wide receiver Michael Thomas play in just seven games, head coach Sean Payton still managed to guide the Saints to a 12-4 record and the second seed in the NFC. Fortunately, New Orleans seems to be getting healthy at the right time as it begins the postseason against the 8-8 Chicago Bears, which had an up and down season but recovered just in time to make the playoffs.
The teams previously met in Week 8 in a game that was won by the Saints in overtime, 26-23. But a lot has happened since then, as the Bears had Nick Foles under center and the Saints didn’t have Thomas at the time. New Orleans has since won eight of their last nine games, losing only to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15. The absence of Brees and Thomas has made the offense more dynamic, relying on running back Alvin Kamara and other options while also boasting one of the NFL’s best defenses. Here are four predictions when the Saints host the Bears in the Wild Card Round:
1. Drew Brees passes for three touchdowns
This playoff run is an important one for the Saints, as Brees, who turns 42 on January 15, hasn’t committed to playing after this season. When asked if his ninth postseason appearance for New Orleans would indeed be his last, the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards didn’t provide a clear answer, instead, focusing on the game at hand.
“I’ve made a decision about being the best I can be this week so we can go win this game so we can keep playing,” Brees told ESPN.
Brees missed four games this season due to rib and lung injuries but has played in the Saints’ last three games, including their Week 17 win over the Carolina Panthers, where he completed 22 of 32 passes for 201 passing yards and three touchdowns. The 13-time Pro Bowler has remained productive in 12 games this season, completing 275 of 390 passes for 2942 yards and 24 touchdowns against six interceptions.
On Sunday, Brees will face a Bears defense that gave up an average of 231.6 passing yards per game, which ranked 12th in the NFL and is led by All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who has nine sacks this season. Brees completed 31 of 41 passes for 281 yards and two scores against Chicago earlier this season, but the Saints are better than they were a couple of months ago. With Brees understanding that a loss could mean an end to his storied career and missing on a chance to win a second Super Bowl, expect the veteran signal-caller to be at his best when the Saints face the Bears.
2. Michael Thomas scores his first touchdown this season
With 32 touchdowns over his first four seasons, finding the end zone has never been a problem for Thomas, who led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards in 2019 and was also named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. But ankle issues caused the 27-year old wideout to miss nine games this season. and he hasn’t played since their Week 14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Reports state that Thomas is designated to return from the injured reserve list, making him Brees’ possible top target on Sunday against the Bears, especially if Kamara doesn’t play after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. It remains to be seen whether the three-time Pro Bowler can quickly recapture his old form, especially after a long lay-off, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him re-establishing his connection with Brees and making difficult catches look easy.
Kamara has reportedly joined the Saints' practices remotely and has posted about his return on social media, which could possibly hint at him suiting up against Chicago. But even when he shares the field with the Saints’ star running back, expect Thomas to have a big game and eventually find the end zone like he’s done throughout his career.
3. The defense gets an interception and two sacks on Mitch Trubisky
While Brees faces a defense that was above average for most of the season, Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky goes up against a Saints defense that ranked among the best in almost every category. New Orleans currently ranks fourth in the league in total yards allowed (310.9) and rushing yards allowed (93.9) and fifth in passing yards allowed (217) and points allowed 21.1 per game.
Trubisky, who has played well in the Bears’ recent wins against the Houston Texans, Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars, has 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 10 games for the Bears, and has been sacked a combined 18 times. New Orleans, meanwhile, has 18 interceptions this season, which leads the NFL, and should another one to their total on Sunday.
But Trubisky might fare better than other quarterbacks against the Saints’ pass rush, as the team will miss defensive end, Trey Hendrickson, due to a neck injury. Hendrickson is a vital cog in their unit and led New Orleans with 13.5 sacks this season while adding 25 quarterback hits. But even without Hendrickson, the Saints defense remains formidable and should pressure the second overall pick of the 2017 Draft and disrupt the Bears offense.
4. Saints take down the Bears and advance to the Divisional Round
Sunday’s Wild Card Round game gives the Saints a chance to see how good they are, as it could possibly reunite Brees, Thomas, and Kamara for the first time since Week 10. The game also presents the team an opportunity to erase three seasons of postseason heartbreak, and with Brees’ retirement looming, it’s hard to see Payton’s team squandering a chance to make a deep playoff run against a Bears team that has been hot and cold throughout the season.
A strong showing from the Chicago defense could keep things close and give them a chance, but this Saints team can win in different ways aside from Brees’ passing, such as through their defense or by running the football. A win will not only sent the Saints to the Divisional Round after a disappointing Wild Card Round loss last season, but should also prove why they remain one of the biggest threats to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC.
