The Chicago Bears are one of many hottest groups within the NFL proper now. After profitable a wild 22-16 additional time sport in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Saturday evening, the Bears are actually on the cusp of clinching their first playoff berth in 5 years. Nonetheless, they have not earned a postseason spot simply but.
At 11-4, the Bears might clinch a spot as quickly as Sunday if the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Detroit Lions in a sport that kicks off at 4:25 p.m ET. That might be the perfect state of affairs for the Bears, as a result of then they would not must sweat something out over the following two weeks, and there is at the least one state of affairs that would have them sweating lots between now and Week 18.
The NFC has been so loopy this yr that the Bears have two very real looking eventualities in play over their ultimate two video games: They may both find yourself because the No. 1 general seed within the NFC or they may miss the playoffs completely. Critically. The Bears might nonetheless miss the playoffs.
First, let’s begin with the excellent news for Bears followers and check out the trail for Chicago to win get the highest seed within the NFC.
- Bears must win out (at 49ers in Week 17, vs. Lions in Week 18)
- Seahawks lose ONE of their ultimate two video games (at Panthers in Week 17, at 49ers in Week 18)
That is it. The Bears want simply three issues to go their approach and if that occurs, they will be the No. 1 general seed. The Bears haven’t got to fret concerning the Rams as a result of even when Los Angeles wins its ultimate two video games to complete 13-4, Chicago would win the convention report tiebreaker over them (The Bears would additionally win that very same tiebreaker over the Seahawks at 13-4).
NFL Week 16 playoff image: Bears ship intestine punch to Packers, Eagles repeat as NFC East champs
Tyler Sullivan
The one downside with this state of affairs is that if the Bears beat the 49ers in Week 17, San Francisco may not have something to play for in Week 18 in opposition to the Seahawks. The most effective case state of affairs for the Bears could be that the 49ers have to win in Week 18 to clinch a playoff berth.
Now that the excellent news is out of the way in which, let’s take a look at the dangerous information. This is how the Bears might COMPLETELY MISS THE PLAYOFFS:
- Bears lose their ultimate two video games (at 49ers, Lions)
- Lions win their ultimate three video games (Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears)
- Packers win their ultimate two video games (Ravens, at Vikings)
If this occurs, then the Bears shall be out of the playoffs. The Lions and Bears would each be 11-6 on this scenario, however Detroit would win the head-to-head tiebreaker to complete on high of the Bears.
That might be Chicago’s nightmare state of affairs and if it occurs, the 11-6 Bears would grow to be simply the third 11-win crew in NFL historical past to overlook the playoffs. The Bears can keep away from this example by profitable simply one of many their ultimate two video games, which might permit them to clinch the NFC North. They’ll additionally keep away from the scenario if the Lions lose to the Steelers on Sunday, which implies everybody in Chicago shall be rooting for Aaron Rodgers, in all probability for the primary time of their life.
