Bears Need Win to Stay on the Road to MetLife Stadium

Jan 27, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; General view of Super Bowl XLVIII logo at the media center in the Convention Center prior to Super Bowl XLVII. The Baltimore Ravens will play the San Francisco 49ers on February 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

I know it’s ridiculously early, but if the playoffs started today, Marc Trestman and the Bears would be on the outside looking in yet again.  The Bears need a win to stay on the Road to MetLife Stadium.  According to the stats, teams with a 4-2 record make the postseason about 59% of the time while 3-3 teams make the postseason just 39% of the time.  It really helps their chances if the pull off a win on Thursday night.

There is a heck of a lot of hardware on the opposing sideline to just expect a glorified scrimmage.  The Giants are still loaded with Pro Bowlers and Super Bowl champions, so don’t expect them to just lay down and play dead for the Bears.  In fact, the Giants are a wounded dog, which is a dangerous thing.  They have nothing to lose, so expect them to throw the kitchen sink at Jay Cutler and the Bears.

Tom Coughlin is one of the most tenured head coaches in the league, going against a rookie head coach in Marc Trestman.   On a short week, having experience in the locker room and on the sidelines could help neutralize what appears to be a mismatch on paper.  In other words, random stuff happens on Thursday nights.  It’s up to the Bears to keep it simple, stay focused on the present and not look past the Giants.  If they don’t, the next 9 days until their next game could be rough.

The Road to MetLife Stadium is fraught with peril.  Thursday night’s game is just another trap the Bears must avoid to be playing in the postseason.

In the spirit of full-disclosure, MetLife as part of the Road to MetLife Stadium Preferred Blogger Program has provided me access to MetLife Stadium-related events and reader giveaways prizes. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.