Nagy knows unorthodox game plan may be required to defeat Packers

You'll forgive Bears coach Matt Nagy if he shows up to Soldier Field Sunday with bags under his eyes.

Same goes for defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. And every single one of Pagano's assistants.

"Not a lot of sleep this week," Pagano deadpanned during Thursday's Zoom call with the media as the coaching staff prepared for a titanic tilt against the Green Bay Packers with a playoff berth on the line.

A win over Aaron Rodgers and Co. means the Bears are in. They can also back in if Arizona loses to the Rams, but the players won't have a clue as to how that game is going because Nagy is not allowing the score to appear on the stadium scoreboard.

The Bears (8-7) have arrived at this point thanks to wins over Houston, Minnesota and Jacksonville - three of the weakest teams in the league.

The Packers are on the polar opposite side of the NFL spectrum and can clinch the No. 1 seed - and the only bye in the NFC - with a win.

So here's the big question: Do you approach this game differently from a strategy standpoint?

Should the Bears go on fourth down at unorthodox times in an attempt to keep Rodgers off the field? Call for a fake punt or an onside kick? Send seven or eight guys at Rodgers?

You don't want players to play differently - don't hype things up so much that they're making mental mistakes - but from a coaching standpoint you've got to understand just how powerful a team you're facing.

"When you go into a game like this you have to make sure that you're dotting your i's and crossing your t's in all three phases," Nagy said when asked if he might take more risks. "Then you come up with a plan that is not just specifically Xs and Os - there might be a bigger plan. We do that every game. But it's stating the obvious that in a game like this you've got to figure out where you're at (and) what the best way is (to) give you the greatest chance to win.

"I guess that's kind of a long-winded answer to say yes."

Rodgers is having a remarkable season, completing 70.3% of his passes and throwing 44 TDs to just 5 interceptions. He's a true field general in every sense of the term, able to dissect exactly what is coming from almost any defensive look.

"He's got rare football IQ and feel for the passing game. And their staff does a great job of giving him enough freedom to get them out of a good play and into a better play," said Ted Monachino, the Bears' senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach. "I haven't seen (the Chiefs') Patrick Mahomes on tape, but I know (Rodgers is) playing as good as any quarterback that I've ever seen."

Brady. Manning. Favre. Brees. Montana. Marino. Elway. Bradshaw. Staubach. Every one of them struck fear into opposing defense - and that's exactly what Rodgers does.

All of those QBs also had remarkable receivers to throw to, and this year is no different for Rodgers as he's hit Davante Adams 109 times for 1,328 yards. Adams caught his 15th, 16th and 17th touchdowns passes in a 40-14 pasting of Tennessee in icy, snowy conditions last week.

"This Adams kid is flippin' phenomenal," Pagano said. "The highlight tape takes six, seven hours to watch - if you want to spend that much time. He deserves every honor and recognition that he's getting.

"He's got the strongest hands. DBs are draped all over him and there's only one spot that the ball can be thrown and of course (Rodgers) puts it right where it needs to be."

As big of a problem as Rodgers and Adams present, the running game is actually what sets the table for an offense that's averaging 32 points over the last eight games.

Aaron Jones has 1,375 yards from scrimmage and 10 TDs. Rookie AJ Dillon - a serious beast at 6-foot, 247 pounds - is becoming a force as well as he racked up 124 yards and 2 TDs against the Titans.

If those two are ripping off 6-plus yards on first down there's almost no stopping this team.

"If you can't calm that down ... then it just opens up everything else," Pagano said. "We've got to be really good on first down. It's got to be second-and-7 plus."

Rodgers was 21 of 29 for 211 yards and 4 TDs when Green Bay crushed the Bears 41-25 on November 29. The Packers scored touchdowns on their first three drives, amassing 230 yards of offense in 36 plays.

It was 27-10 at halftime and 41-10 after three quarters. Much of the damage was done on the ground, however, as Jones and Jamaal Williams combined for 163 yards on 34 carries.

So as much as Mitch Trubisky, Allen Robinson and David Montgomery must bring their A-game, it's also about the defense finding an entirely different gear.

Put an all-out siege on Rodgers. Slow Adams down any way you can. Strip the ball.

Do all of that - then take a few chances as a coaching staff - and there's a chance for a win and that coveted playoff berth that seemed all but impossible a month ago.

"When it comes down to it, these guys got to go out and they've got to find a way to make things happen," Nagy said. "That's where you rely on teaching these guys all year long to prepare for this type of moment.

"I mean, how would you not want this kind of moment to happen? It's pretty cool."