The Chicago Bears have officially secured a spot in the NFL playoffs, marking their return to postseason play for the first time since 2020. Holding an impressive 11-4 record, the Bears are in a unique position to potentially finalize their playoff seeding with two weeks left in the regular season, playing games against San Francisco and Detroit.
With thrilling playoff scenarios still unfolding, the Bears could finish in any position from No. 1 to No. 7. To clinch the NFC North title, which they haven’t achieved since 2018, the Bears need just one more victory or a loss from the Green Bay Packers, who currently sit at 9-5-1. The Packers are set to face tough opponents, including the Ravens and the Vikings, which leaves their fate uncertain.
Chicago’s aspirations for the top seed are within reach as well. For the Bears to claim the coveted No. 1 seed for the first time since 2006, they need to win their final two games while hoping the Seattle Seahawks, who sit at 12-3, lose one of their upcoming matches against either Carolina or San Francisco.
Should the Bears secure the No. 1 seed, they would enjoy a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs. If they land the No. 2 seed, their chances of facing the Packers again in the postseason increase, especially if they win this weekend’s game against San Francisco and the Philadelphia Eagles lose to the Buffalo Bills.
In more optimistic scenarios for the Bears, should they achieve the No. 3 seed, they would host a wild card team from the NFC West, like the LA Rams or San Francisco. On the other hand, if they slip down to the lower seeds (No. 6 or 7), they are likely to face challenging matchups against teams like the Packers or Eagles on the road.
According to recent projections, the odds of the Bears obtaining each playoff seed are as follows: 9.9% for the No. 1 seed, 70.2% for the No. 2 seed, 6.4% for the No. 3 seed, 0.2% for the No. 6 seed, and 13.3% for the No. 7 seed.
As the playoffs approach, the Bears’ performance in the upcoming games will be crucial in determining their path, promising fans an exciting finish to the regular season.