The Chicago Bears have had a remarkable turnaround this season. Despite a loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football, the Bears still have a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC during Week 18. Their path is straightforward: they need to either defeat the Detroit Lions or hope that the Washington Commanders can defeat the Philadelphia Eagles.
If one of these outcomes occurs, the Bears will secure the second position in the conference. Conversely, for the Eagles to claim the second seed, they must win their game, coupled with a Bears loss. This is significant as the Bears hold the tiebreaker over the Eagles due to their victory in Week 13.
The top seed in the NFC will be determined by the showdown between the Seahawks and the 49ers in Week 18. The winner of that contest will earn the No. 1 seed and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
Securing the No. 2 seed would provide the Bears with at least two home games in the postseason: one in the Wild Card Round and potentially another in the Divisional Round, should they advance. Additionally, if the top seed loses in the Divisional Round, the Bears could gain home-field advantage for the NFC Championship game if they progress that far.
This season”s performance is particularly noteworthy given that the Bears finished with a 5-12 record last year, far from the playoff picture. Their current position is a testament to the effective leadership of head coach Ben Johnson in his inaugural season, which has already ended a playoff drought lasting four years.
However, reaching the playoffs is only part of the journey. Now that they have qualified, the Bears are determined to secure their first postseason victory since 2010 and aim for their first Super Bowl appearance in nearly two decades. Achieving the No. 2 seed could play a pivotal role in this quest.
