The Chicago Bears are riding high-and for good reason. Their wild card win over the Green Bay Packers wasn’t just a playoff victory; it was a generational exorcism.
For a fanbase that’s carried the weight of gut-wrenching losses like Rodgers-to-Cobb in 2013 and the NFC Championship heartbreak in 2010, last Saturday’s comeback was nothing short of cathartic. It was the kind of emotional release that cities wait decades for.
And now, just days later, the Bears are staring down another massive challenge: the Los Angeles Rams, a team with real Super Bowl ambitions.
But here’s the question that’s quietly hovering over Halas Hall: Do the Bears have anything left in the tank?
That Packers win took everything-emotionally, physically, mentally. It was the kind of game that drains a team, not just fuels it. And history tells us that coming off a high like that can be dangerous.
Let’s rewind.
In 1980, the Eagles finally got past their longtime nemesis, the Cowboys, in the NFC Championship. The emotional payoff was huge… and then they got steamrolled by the Raiders in the Super Bowl.
In 1985, the Patriots shocked the Dolphins in the AFC title game, a team that had dominated them for years. The next week? They ran into the buzzsaw that was the ’85 Bears and lost 46-10.
Fast forward to 1993: the Raiders finally took down John Elway and the Broncos in the wild card round. The next week, they couldn’t keep the momentum going and fell to Buffalo.
Even the 2010 Jets, who stunned the Patriots in Foxborough, couldn’t sustain the magic. They lost a tight one in Pittsburgh the following week.
And in 2014, the Ravens finally got over the Steelers hump in the wild card round-only to collapse in the second half against the Patriots a week later.
Emotional wins over bitter rivals are powerful. But they often come at a cost.
The Bears themselves have been here before. In 1994, they shocked the Vikings in the wild card round after losing to them twice in the regular season.
It was a huge win. But the following week, they got steamrolled by the 49ers, 44-15.
That Bears team, though, wasn’t built like this one. This group has more talent at quarterback, a sharper offensive mind in head coach Ben Johnson, and a defense that’s not just experienced but battle-tested.
And this time, they’ll be playing at home.
So what’s the difference-maker?
**Focus. Preparation.
Urgency. **
By all accounts, Johnson has been locked in this week, making sure his team doesn’t spend too long basking in the glow of last Saturday. Players have said he’s been relentless about one message: the Packers game is over.
The Rams are coming, and they’re not interested in the Bears’ emotional journey. They’re here to win.
And that’s what makes Sunday night so intriguing. We know this Bears team can rise to the occasion.
We saw it last week. But now we’ll find out if they can reset, refocus, and reload.
Because beating your rival is sweet. But backing it up with another win? That’s what contenders do.