3 NFC sleeper teams who contend with 49ers for playoffs
By Peter Panacy
49ers Threat No. 3: Chicago Bears
2020 Record: 8-8, 2nd Place in NFC North
The Chicago Bears barely made it in the postseason last year, yet general manager Ryan Pace essentially saved his job by trading up from No. 20 overall in this year’s draft to No. 11 in order to grab Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields might not start right away over the veteran, Andy Dalton. But one has to figure, as soon as Fields is even remotely close to being able to compete at an NFL level, head coach Matt Nagy will pull the trigger and make the switch.
Related Story: 5 toughest matchups for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021
Nagy’s offenses the last four years have wallowed in quarterbacking mediocrity, so one has to admit even a modest rookie year from Fields should be good enough for a couple of wins this season. And with a tumultuous NFC North, particularly with the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ future, the Bears could make some leaps as long as their defense stays roughly as good as it was a year ago.
If Fields is able to generate some early chemistry with one of his best receiving weapons, wide receiver Allen Robinson, expect the Bears to push for more than the eight wins they had last season.
From the 49ers’ vantage point, one key deciding factor will be whether or not they can beat Chicago at Soldier Field on Oct. 31.