The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ wild-card playoff game Sunday against the Saints:
RICK MORRISSEY
Saints 35-20
The Bears need Mitch Trubisky to make big plays Sunday. That’s a problem because he hasn’t shown the ability to do it against good teams in big games. Hard to see it changing now. Season: 9-7.
RICK TELANDER
Saints 28-23
This game is indoors, so nobody can blame January weather. They can blame Drew Brees for being a senior Aaron Rodgers, though. Two Hall of Fame-to-be quarterbacks in a row. Sorry, Bears. Season: 10-6.
PATRICK FINLEY
Saints 24-15
Brees is a Hall of Famer — but he’s not Rodgers. On the fast turf and with better weapons at his disposal than the Packers had, that should still be enough. I expect the Bears to try and play keep-away again to try to keep it close. Season: 13-3.
JASON LIESER
Saints 31-17
I’ve gone 6-10 picking Bears games this season because I keep picking them to win, but that stops now. As I always say, “Fool me 10 times, shame on you. Fool me 11 times, shame on me.” Season: 6-10
MARK POTASH
Saints, 26-17
The Bears offense has made strides since a 26-23 overtime loss on Nov. 1 at Soldier Field. But Saints’ defense has made even bigger strides. If Alvin Kamara (reserve/COVID-19) and Michael Thomas (ankle) play and Roquan Smith (elbow) does not, that’s another big edge for the Saints. Season: 9-7.
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