The Chicago Bears are back in the playoffs. And for the first time since January 6, 2019, they’ll host a postseason game at Soldier Field. That much we know for sure.

What we don’t know yet is who they’ll be playing.

Right now, Chicago sits as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. If that holds, the Bears would welcome the Green Bay Packers to Soldier Field for a third meeting this season — and just the third playoff matchup in the history of the rivalry.

But nothing is locked in.

If the Philadelphia Eagles take care of business against the Washington Commanders on Sunday — even while resting key starters — the Bears will need to beat the Detroit Lions at home to maintain that No. 2 seed.

If they slip to No. 3, Chicago could be looking at either the Los Angeles Rams or a rematch with the San Francisco 49ers on Wild Card Weekend.

Full playoff scenarios are available here. That’s not what this is for. 

I’m here to make a bold declaration about what the Bears — and Bears fans — should be rooting for.

Not only should the Bears want to play Green Bay in the first round. It is paramount to their success that they do.

Bring on the Packers.

Is that a high-risk, high-reward stance? Absolutely.

A playoff win over Green Bay would provide a surge of momentum powerful enough to carry this team deep into January — maybe even all the way to Super Bowl LX. Bears fans will already remember that overtime win against the Packers for years. A playoff victory would be a memory that lasts a lifetime.

And yes, there will be fans who don’t want to tempt fate. A home playoff loss to Green Bay would be devastating. It would cast a painful shadow over one of the most fun regular seasons this franchise has ever had.

The reality is that if this season ends with a playoff loss to the Packers — especially at home — the late-game heroics, the miraculous finishes, the weekly belief that this team is different won’t mean much anyway.

That’s the risk. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take.

When I say “bring on the Packers,” some of that is rivalry, of course. Some of it is the desire to end Green Bay’s season and silence the noise once and for all. But it’s more than just that.

The Bears should want the Packers because — rivalry aside — it is simply the best matchup available to them on Wild Card Weekend. It gives them the clearest path to a deep playoff run.

Let’s start with the roster matchup.

Green Bay is limping toward the postseason. Their offense has been inconsistent since losing tight end Tucker Kraft for the year. Defensively, the injuries have piled up too. Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt is out with a broken ankle, star edge rusher Micah Parsons is done with a torn ACL, and starting center Elgton Jenkins is finished for the year with a broken leg. Cornerback Nate Hobbs has also been ruled out.

To be fair, the Packers have competed against the Bears despite some of these absences. Green Bay won the first matchup on the final play of regulation. Chicago answered with an overtime win in the rematch — a game Jordan Love didn’t finish.

So no, we can't assume the Bears would roll over Green Bay just because they're banged up.

But it is undeniable that the Packers are stumbling into the playoffs. They’ve lost three straight games and are set to start third-string quarterback Clayton Tune in Week 18.

This is a team the Bears have already proven they can go toe-to-toe with.

Chicago’s biggest concern entering the playoffs is its defense. That’s exactly why Green Bay is ideal. The Packers are far less explosive offensively than San Francisco or Los Angeles, giving the Bears a better chance to keep the game tight and put it in Caleb Williams’ hands late.

And we’ve seen the formula.

The Packers defense was just gashed for over 300 rushing yards by Baltimore. Derrick Henry alone went for 216 yards and four touchdowns. The Bears have shown they can run the ball against Green Bay, too — and controlling the ground game is the key to keeping their defense fresh and preventing a shootout with little margin for error.

There’s also the Jordan Love factor. He hasn’t played since December 20 — against the Bears. Maybe the rest helps him. Or maybe the offense comes out rusty, especially considering how different Green Bay looks when he’s under center compared to Malik Willis.

For all of these reasons, I wan to see Green Bay before a team from the NFC West.

There’s also the bigger picture.

Lock in the No. 2 seed, beat the Packers, and the Bears are guaranteed a second home playoff game at Soldier Field.

From there, the path opens up. If the top seed gets knocked off, Chicago could even find itself with home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. And unless three NFC West teams advance past Wild Card Weekend, the No. 2 seed sets up a Divisional Round matchup with either Philadelphia or the NFC South champion — likely Carolina.

That’s a team the Bears handled comfortably during the regular season, and arguably the weakest playoff team in the field.

That’s the ideal path.

I understand how bold it can sound sounds. By asking for the Packers, I’m accepting the possibility of the most painful loss imaginable. I’m opening myself up to every joke in the book if the Bears don’t take care of business.

And yes — I asked for it.

But fear of the Green Bay “boogeyman” can’t dictate what’s best for this team. If we truly believe these aren’t the same old Bears — something we’ve repeated all season — then it’s time to believe they can rise to the moment and beat a team they are, right now, unquestionably better than.

So yes. Give me the Packers.

Go get the No. 2 seed. And go get the Bears’ first playoff win in 15 years.