The Chicago Bears are still in a playoff spot after their loss to the Green Bay Packers, but their grip on that spot became a lot more tenuous.
If the Bears had won, they’d still be tied with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks for the best record in the NFC, but instead they find themselves tied with the San Francisco 49ers at 9-4 and are just one game up on the Detroit Lions in the fight for the last wild card spot in the NFC.
With four games to go, the Bears still have plenty of work to do in order to reach the postseason for the first time since the 2020 season, but thankfully for them, they will have their destiny largely in their own hands as they continue a critical stretch of games.
Here’s what to know.
What are the current NFC Playoff Standings?
1 Los Angeles Rams 10-3
2 Green Bay Packers 9-3-1
3 Philadelphia Eagles 8-5
4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-6
5 Seattle Seahawks 10-3
6 San Francisco 49ers 9-4
7 Chicago Bears 9-4
8 Detroit Lions 8-5
9 Carolina Panthers 7-6
The Rams currently hold a tiebreaker over the Seahawks thanks to a Week 11 victory over their NFC West rivals. The two teams will play again on Thursday, Dec. 18.
The Buccaneers hold a divisional tiebreaker over the Panthers in the NFC South, as they have a better record against common opponents.
Finally, the 49ers are ahead of the Bears thanks to their superior winning percentage in games against NFC opponents.
What are the Bears’ playoff chances?
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, the Bears currently have a projected record of 11-6 on the season, with a 61.9% chance of making the playoffs.
The Bears have a 20.8% chance of winning the NFC North, and a 1.4% chance of winning the Super Bowl, according to the projection.
The NFL’s projections have the Bears with a 65% chance of reaching the postseason.
What will impact the Bears’ playoff chances?
Fortunately for the Bears, they have multiple games down the stretch that can help their playoff chances immensely.
The first of those will take place next week when they face the Packers in a rematch at Soldier Field. Winning that game could potentially move the Bears back ahead of Green Bay, and also help their winning percentage in NFC games.
For their following game, an even more important showdown will take place against the 49ers in Santa Clara. The two teams are currently tied in the standings, and if they end the season tied, a tiebreaker would start with the head-to-head result of the showdown, meaning the Bears could stand to benefit in a big way from a win in that matchup.
The final game of the season could also be critical, as the Bears will face the Lions at Soldier Field. The Lions won the first game of the season between the teams, and a loss in this one would hand the Lions a significant tiebreaker if the two teams end the regular season with the same record.
Other key NFC games down the stretch
The Buccaneers will be looking to hold onto their top spot in the NFC South when they face the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.
The Packers will have a tough road test on Sunday when they face the Denver Broncos in the Mile High City, and the Panthers will need a win over the lowly Saints to keep pace in the NFC South.
Perhaps the biggest game left on the slate comes on Thursday, December 18 when the Seahawks host the Rams in Seattle. That game could go a long way toward determining the winner of the NFC West, and perhaps the top-seed in the NFC.
Another huge NFC South game is also on the schedule that weekend, as the Panthers will host the Buccaneers in Charlotte on December 21.
Week 17 will see the Eagles taking on the Buffalo Bills as they try to hold onto the NFC East lead, while the Bears and 49ers will tangle in Santa Clara in another pivotal matchup.
The final week of the regular season features the Lions visiting the Bears, while the Seahawks and 49ers will also tangle in the Bay Area. There will also be a rematch for the Panthers and Buccaneers, and NFL fans will want to keep an eye on the standings, as that game could be the Sunday Night Football flex game for the final day of the regular season.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
