Bears’ path to the NFC’s top seed got a leg up following a wild Thursday night but it starts by handling business on Saturday
There’s a lot at stake going into Saturday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Chicago Bears are knocking on the door of securing a playoff spot after a 10-4 start to the season entering a critical Week 16 rematch against the Green Bay Packers but a lot of possibilities are hanging in the balance over these last three weeks.
Depending how those three weeks go, the Bears could secure the top seed in the NFC or just as easily miss the playoffs entirely, so there’s still a ton to play for.
Looking ahead to this weekend, the Bears have a clear path to punching their ticket to the playoffs with a win and a loss by the Detroit Lions against the Pittsburgh Steelers. By winning two of their final three games, Chicago can clinch the NFC North title and host a playoff game. But, how about securing the No. 1 seed in the conference, let’s see how things stand going into the weekend.
Seahawks’ big win over the Rams on TNF actually helps the Bears in a big way
If you went to bed early on Thursday, you missed the easy favorite for this season’s Game of the Year between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks. Despite trailing 30-14 in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks rallied back to force overtime and kept the foot on the gas to secure a big Week 16 win.
With the win, the Seahawks jumped the Rams for the top seed in the NFC but it’s still a tight race between Seattle, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco 49ers. But, you shouldn’t overlook the Bears and Packers because the Seahawks’ win actually helps the victor of Saturday’s game based on the remaining schedule.
If the winner of Saturday’s game between the Bears and Packers continue to win out over the remaining two weeks and get some help, one of those two NFC North teams can still snatch the No. 1 seed in the conference. Seattle’s final two games of the season are against the Carolina Panthers and the 49ers, two tough opponents, and now the target is on their back.
Chicago and Green Bay don’t have a cupcake schedule left either, though. After Week 16, the Bears are scheduled to face the 49ers and the Detroit Lions while the Packers have to face the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.
But, as it relates to the Bears’ chances of securing the top seed, it’s simple. If the Bears win out over the final three weeks and the Seahawks drop one of their final two remaining games, the Bears will hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC. And taking care of business on Saturday comes first.
Path to the No. 1 seed starts on Saturday
“There doesn’t need to be much of a message here this week,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters earlier in the week. “They know. They know what’s at stake.”
Few games are bigger this weekend than the Bears-Packers matchup on Saturday night. It’s the NFL’s oldest rivalry, with heavy playoff implications, and it’s taking place 13 days after the previous matchup.
“This is what you play football for,” veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “This is what you dream about — the opportunity to play prime-time football, a rivalry game, playoff implications, seeding implications. … You can’t ask for a better moment.”
Saying this is a massive game is an understatement. For the Bears, they have the right mindset when it comes to preparing for the team in front of you and they showed that last week against the Cleveland Browns. No one’s thinking big picture inside Halas Hall when it comes to playoffs and seedings but there is a sense of excitement for what’s possible.
“I think our players are excited to be in this spot,” Johnson said. “They’ve put themselves in a — we’re 10-4 and we’ve got a lot to play for here over the next three weeks. Really in this league you can’t ask for a lot more than that.”
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