BREAKING: Who do the Bears play next? Chicago will host the divisional round at Soldier Field, and the opponent comes down to the Eagles or Rams. The date and kickoff time will be set after the league finalizes the full slate. I’m told Chicago is locked in as a home team, with reseeding driving the matchup.
What We Know Right Now
Chicago beat Green Bay on Saturday, and that result changed the NFC picture. The Bears move on and bring playoff football back to the lakefront. It will be loud, cold, and very Chicago. The opponent will be the Philadelphia Eagles or the Los Angeles Rams. It depends on how the remaining Wild Card games break.
The Bears will not travel. Soldier Field will host the city’s biggest game in years. Tickets and logistics are already moving behind the scenes. The team will treat this as a normal week until the league posts the final schedule.
NFL playoff reseeding means the highest remaining seed hosts the lowest remaining seed every round. That is why Chicago’s opponent hinges on other results.
How The Opponent Gets Decided
Here is the simple version. If the lowest remaining NFC seed survives the Wild Card round, that club will be routed to the top seed. Then Chicago draws the other qualifier, either Philadelphia or Los Angeles. If the Wild Card breaks the other way, the Bears get the lowest seed that advances between those two.
That is the cleanest way to track it. The league will set the order of games once the bracket locks. Expect a Saturday or Sunday slot, late afternoon or under the lights.
The NFL will announce date, kickoff time, and TV network after all Wild Card finals are in. Expect a firm answer late Sunday night or early Monday.
If It Is The Eagles
Philadelphia brings power in the trenches. Their defensive line wins first down and compresses pockets. Haason Reddick changes games off the edge. Jalen Carter collapses the interior. On offense, Jalen Hurts stresses defenses with designed runs and quick rhythm throws. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith win isolation routes and punish single coverage.
The Bears counter with a surging front seven and a patient run game. Chicago’s late season pass rush found a gear, and that travels in the cold. The key would be early down control. Force third and long, crowd the middle, and keep Hurts in the pocket. Offensively, quick answers against pressure are a must. Screens, slants, and quarterback keepers can slow the rush.
Special teams could swing it. Field position matters more in January wind. A single short field could decide a one score game.
If It Is The Rams
Los Angeles under Sean McVay thrives on motion and timing. Matthew Stafford will test tight windows and hit shot plays off play action. Puka Nacua is a route expert. Cooper Kupp finds space on key downs. Kyren Williams brings burst to their zone run game.
Chicago’s best counter is physicality at the line and hands on receivers. Disrupt the first five yards, and the Rams’ timing slips. The Bears’ linebackers must sort all the misdirection. Do not bite on the eye candy. Offensively, the Bears need balance and patience. Long drives keep Stafford on the sideline and the Rams defense on its heels.
Red zone execution will loom large. Threes instead of sevens add up in January. Chicago’s tight ends and backs could be difference makers inside the 20.
What The Bears Must Nail This Week
No matter who walks into Soldier Field, the formula will be familiar.
- Own the line of scrimmage on both sides.
- Protect the ball, protect the quarterback.
- Tackle clean in space and win third down.
- Start fast, then let the crowd take over.
This city feeds off defense and grit. Players feel it in warmups. Coaches feel it on fourth down. It is part of the Bears’ edge, and it matters in a cold weather game.
Monitor the injury report on both sides. January depth often decides matchups more than scheme.
When We’ll Know, And What Comes Next
The league will finalize the divisional slate after the last Wild Card result posts. The window is tight. Coaches prefer clarity, but this is the playoffs. Chicago will stage two game plans, one for the Eagles and one for the Rams, then sharpen the right one the moment the bracket locks.
The city is ready. The locker room is calm. The opponent will be known soon, and the path is clear. Win at home, then pack for the NFC title chase. For now, the answer to who the Bears play next is simple. It is the Eagles or the Rams, at Soldier Field, with Chicago’s season and swagger on full display. Football in this town feels right again. 🏈
Conclusion: The Bears earned their home stage, and the matchup will be set as soon as the Wild Card dust settles. Expect clarity within hours of the final whistle. Expect noise, cold, and playoff football on the lakefront. The road to the NFC crown runs through Chicago next weekend.
