No current Bears player has appeared in a playoff game with the team. But that doesn't mean there isn't a decent amount of postseason experience on the roster.
Of the Bears' 53 players, 13 have appeared in a combined 44 NFL playoff games. Four individuals have won a Super Bowl: tight end Trey Burton (2017 Eagles), inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (2015 Broncos), cornerback Prince Amukamara (Giants 2011) and backup quarterback Chase Daniel (2009 Saints).
Burton appeared in all three of Philadelphia's postseason games last year and threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Nick Foles on a gutsy fourth-down trick play in the Eagles' 41-33 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
Asked what advice he'd give his Bears teammates about the playoffs, Burton said: "Everything is magnified. People from the outside make ever play and every second, they put it on this huge pedestal where in reality it's just a football game. We've been playing 16 or 20 or 21 of them this year, and it's nothing different than that."
Trevathan appeared in seven games with six starts in three playoff appearances with the Broncos in 2012, 2013 and 2015. In his final contest with Denver, he registered eight tackles and recovered two fumbles in a 24-10 win over the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
Trevathan said that he'd advise his Bears teammates entering the playoffs to "just be on your stuff. You don't really want to make too many mistakes. You're playing on a short leash. It's all about preparation, executing your call and getting on top of it."
Amukamara played in all four of the Giants' postseason games as a rookie in 2011, including New York's 21-17 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. The Giants beat the Cowboys in a winner-take-all season finale for the NFC East title and then defeated the Falcons, Packers and 49ers to reach the Super Bowl.
"One thing that's obvious [about the playoffs] is that it's one-and-done, and the margin for error is very, very small," Amukamara said. "And all the records are out the window. It doesn't matter if you're 12-4 or 9-7; all that matters is you got in. The first year with the Giants, we got in at 9-7 and were just hot and kept rolling.
"The last thing is that everybody takes their game to the next level. The intensity is higher, the crowds are louder, the field's a little bit harder and the weather here is going to be a little bit colder. Everything just intensifies by that much more."
Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks has registered 10 tackles in four playoff games, two as a starter with the Saints in 2014 and two as a reserve with the Patriots in 2015.
"Everything's on the line; it's do-or-die," Hicks said. "If you're not there to play, then you'll be packing your black bag early, and it's never fun."
As you'd expect, the finality that comes with a playoff loss provides a ton of incentive.
"It's definitely a motivator, no question," Hicks said. "It is a motivator because you know that these opportunities come few and far between. If you don't take advantage of it, you may never get the opportunity again."
Bears receiver Taylor Gabriel appeared in five playoff games with the Falcons in 2016 and 2017, catching 11 passes for 175 yards. He had three receptions for 76 yards in Atlanta's 34-28 overtime loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
Three offensive linemen have postseason experience: Bobby Massie made three starts with the Cardinals in 2014 and 2015; Bradley Sowell made five appearances as a reserve with the Colts (2012), Cardinals (2014 and 2015) and Seahawks (2016); and Bryan Witzmann appeared in two games with one start for the Chiefs in 2016 and 2017.
Khalil Mack has played in one playoff game, registering 11 tackles and two tackles-for-loss for the Raiders in a 2016 loss to the Texans.
Long-snapper Patrick Scales appeared in two postseason contests with the Ravens in 2014, while defensive tackle Nick Williams played in two playoff games as a reserve with the Chiefs in 2015 and Dolphins in 2016.
