Three things to know about the Bears’ Wild Card playoff opponent, the New Orleans Saints

After sneaking into the playoffs despite a three-possession loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the Bears have a rematch with the New Orleans Saints lined up.

The No. 7-seeded Bears (8-8) will travel to New Orleans to face the No. 2-seeded Saints (12-4) at 3:40 p.m. Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Back on Nov. 1, the Saints beat the Bears, 26-23, in overtime on a field goal from kicker Wil Lutz. The Bears started quarterback Nick Foles that day and Mitch Trubisky entered the game for one play before injuring his shoulder.

A lot has changed since then.

[Read more: Nagy: ‘It’s OK to feel like crap’ as Bears sneak into playoffs]

Before the rematch on Sunday, here are three things to know about the Saints:

1. Alvin Kamara’s status is a hot topic

The Saints placed star running back Alvin Kamara on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday after Kamara reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus. Kamara sat out the Saints’ Week 17 win over the Carolina Panthers. Thanks to the NFL scheduling the Wild Card round game on Sunday, rather than Saturday, Kamara has a chance to play, but it’s no guarantee.

Sunday is the earliest day Kamara could return. Per the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, a positive test demands a 10-day window before return. Kamara would have to remain asymptomatic and obtain medical clearance in order to play Sunday. That would also mean missing the entire week of practice.

He’s obviously a huge weapon for the Saints. Kamara totaled 1,688 yards from scrimmage and 21 total touchdowns this season.

2. Drew Brees is heating up

In his third start back from a rib injury and a punctured lung, Saints quarterback Drew Brees looked like the Brees of old. He threw for 201 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions on Sunday, while completing 22-of-32 passes. It was Brees’ most efficient game since the injury and an encouraging sign for the Saints heading into the postseason.

With Brees sidelined for four weeks, the Saints still went 3-1 with Taysom Hill starting at quarterback. But the Saints are a more dangerous team when Brees is in the game and they can pick and choose their spots with Hill, a jack-of-all-trades player.

Brees threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns on Nov. 1 when the Saints beat the Bears at Soldier Field. The Bears sacked him just once and recorded only two additional QB hits. Hill caught a touchdown pass from Brees in that game.

[Hub Arkush: So what did we learn by the Bears backing into the playoffs?

3. The Saints defense is playing at a high level

Don’t let the final scores fool you. Yes, the Saints gave up 32 points in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 20. Yes, they allowed 33 points in a win over Minnesota on Christmas Day. But this defense has proven itself to be one of the best in football.

As the regular season comes to an end, the Saints rank fourth in yards against per game (310.9 yards), fourth in rushing yards against per game (93.9 yards) and fifth in passing yards against per game (217.0). They’ve allowed only 21.1 points per game, tied for fifth.

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is heading to his third Pro Bowl in four seasons, and defensive end Cameron Jordan will be there for the sixth time overall and the fourth year in a row. As a team, the Saints had five interceptions against Carolina in Week 17.

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