Chicago Bears clinch first NFC North title since 2018 as Packers lose

The Chicago Bears have just secured their first division title since 2018 after the Green Bay Packers lost to the Baltimore Ravens Saturday night.

The Packers’ loss at Lambeau Field means the Bears are officially NFC North champions, and they’ll be guaranteed at least one home playoff game when the postseason gets underway next month.

Despite the loss, the Packers have still clinched a playoff berth thanks to the Detroit Lions’ Thursday loss to the Vikings, but they’ll be in one of the three wild card spots in the NFC, while the Bears will get home-field advantage for their first game.

Even after clinching the division, the Bears still have plenty to play for as they take on the 49ers Sunday. A Bears win over a Philadelphia Eagles loss to the Buffalo Bills would lock the Bears into the No. 2 seed, which would give them a chance to host their first two playoff games at Soldier Field.

The Bears still also have a chance at the top spot in the NFC, though they would need some help as the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams battle it out for the top spot in the NFC West.

Chicago’s plus-21 turnover margin is the second best for any team through 15 games in the past 13 seasons, behind only the plus-23 for the 2019 Patriots. The last time the Bears finished a season plus-21 or better came in 1985 when they were plus-23 on the way to winning the franchise’s only Super Bowl title.  

Complicating matters for the team is a spate of illnesses that have hit multiple members of the squad. Bears right tackle Darnell Wright was added to the team’s injury report Saturday due to illness, and he did not travel with the team to the Bay Area. He is questionable for the game Sunday.

Defensive back Nick McCloud will not play due to illness, and defensive back Josh Blackwell and defensive back Nahshon Wright are both questionable due to illness as well.

“It’s this time of year,” head coach Ben Johnson said Friday. “I doubt we’re the only team dealing with it. We’re washing our hands, we’re being very diligent, guys have masks on, doing what you can. Whoever’s available here on game day, we will look to win with. If a guy can’t go, then we will be ready.”