Total Pro Sports
The road to the Super Bowl begins Saturday, and the wild card round is packed with clashes fans won’t want to miss.
One such game could be played in heavy snow.
The Chicago Bears are set to host their divisional rivals, the Green Bay Packers, at Soldier Field on the day. The teams will meet not long after their dramatic Week 16 clash.
The NFC North champions were accused of cheating when they beat the Packers 22-16 on December 20. Several Bears players, including quarterback Caleb Williams, trolled Green Bay with cheese-grater headgear in the days that followed.
Given the above, Matt LaFleur and his side should be amped for this one, but the conditions could tilt things in the home team’s favor.
The National Weather Service has warned that two storm systems will bring “gusty winds and heavy snow” to the Chicago area on Saturday. The storm has been moving from the southern Rockies to the Great Lakes and could impact the game.
The weather report is, of course, subject to change. However, should the venue brave heavy snowfall, it would likely help the Bears.
Ben Johnson’s running game could be way more effective going up against the Green Bay defense in the bitter conditions.
Chicago finished the regular season with the NFL’s third-ranked rushing offense. Veteran D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai have both impressed on the ground. The Packers also gave up 150 rushing yards in their Week 16 encounter.
Adversely, the Bears recorded their single-worst rushing performance of the season against the Detroit Lions in Week 18 with just 65. They didn’t run for more than 10 yards at a time in the 19-16 loss.
It would do them well to establish their rush early, especially if the weather pans out as predicted.
