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New England Patriots: What to root for over Wild Card Weekend

By Patrick Morgan

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 30: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on during the first quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 30: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on during the first quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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3. The ’18 Bears are not the ’85 Bears, but that defense does kind of look familiar… so cheer for the Eagles.

CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 16: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears encourages the crowd to cheer during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on December 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.The Bears defeated the Packers 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – DECEMBER 16: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears encourages the crowd to cheer during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on December 16, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.The Bears defeated the Packers 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

There are 31 teams in the NFL that should want no part of the Chicago Bears. And the New England Patriots are definitely one of them.

Older readers of Musket Fire will no doubt remember what happened 33 years ago down in New Orleans. The Patriots and the Bears both made their Super Bowl debuts, but came into that game on very different trajectories.

New England made it in as a scrappy Wild Card, historically becoming the first team to win three straight road playoff games to make it to the Super Bowl. Chicago made it in as the 15-1 top seed in the NFC, riding Walter Payton and a ridiculous rap song all the way to Louisiana.

We all know what happened next: Mike Ditka’s Bears decimated the Pats to the tune of 46-10, winning their first championship and setting New England on a downward spiral the Pats wouldn’t escape from until the turn of the millennium.

While it would be heresy to compare most NFL teams to a group as renowned and legendary as the ’85 Bears, even diehard Chicagoans might invite the comparison if it involves their team this season.

Ever since Jon Gruden inexplicably shipped his best player out of town, Khalil Mack and the Bears have been terrorizing opposing offenses. All Matt Nagy’s team has to do is score a few points when they have the ball, and his defense will do the rest.

Remember: New England won in Chicago earlier this season, but only by one yard. Mack also played that game hobbled. If he’s healthy and the rematch occurs on a neutral field, look out.

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