In most playoff matchups, the spotlight settles naturally on a player or a marquee one-on-one matchup.
For the Chicago Bears, however, the most important individual to know won't even line up on the field. Because the Bears’ chances of punching a ticket to the NFC title game hinge largely on defensive backs coach Al Harris and his collaboration with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
The assignment is clear, even if the solution is anything but simple -- limit Puka Nacua.
Bears must stop Puka Nacua if they want to advance to NFC Championship game
Arguably the top offensive player in all of football this fall, if Nacua catches five passes in the first quarter, crosses the 100-yard mark before halftime, or finds the end zone multiple times, it's going to be a long, long evening for Chicago and head coach Ben Johnson.
For Allen and company, the Bears’ defense has thrived this season by being opportunistic, creating turnovers, and capitalizing on mistakes. Against a receiver like Nacua, though, that approach has to be paired with discipline and variety. Harris’ influence becomes critical here, particularly in how the secondary presents different looks snap to snap—off-man coverage, press within the contact window, bracket concepts with safety help, and late rotations after the snap all need to be part of the plan.
What makes Nacua so difficult is not just his physicality, but his ability to win everywhere. He's effective on the outside, dangerous on crossing routes, and reliable on hitches and timing-based concepts that keep Matthew Stafford in rhythm. Accounting for that versatility to ensure that Nacua never gets comfortable identifying coverage or leverage is priority number one this week, and could be the primary key for the Bears overall.
Peeling back the layers, the objective isn't to erase Nacua entirely, which is unrealistic against a player of his caliber. Instead, the Bears need to limit him, to minimize his impact. Keep him under double-digit catches. Keep him below 100 yards. Most importantly, keep him out of the end zone.
If Chicago can execute, the structure of the game shifts dramatically in their favor.
That shift matters because of the broader matchup. The Bears’ offense has shown poise in high-leverage moments all year long, and their defense can generate pressure against a quarterback who is far more dangerous from a clean pocket than on the move. Disrupt Stafford’s timing, take away his primary outlet, and the Rams’ offense becomes far less efficient.
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This is where Harris’ relationship with Allen becomes pivotal. Communication, adaptability, and in-game adjustments will define whether Chicago can counter Nacua’s impact inside, outside, and over the top. If the Bears prevent him from getting going early, they give themselves not only a path to win, but a path to control the ballgame and punch their ticket to the NFC title game for the first time in 15 years.