The Bears are on a roll! Clinching the NFC North title, they're headed to the playoffs in Ben Johnson's inaugural season as head coach. But here's the real kicker: they did it with a dominant performance, securing their place as either the No. 1, 2, or 3 seed in the NFC playoffs.
After clinching a playoff spot just a week prior, the Bears (11-4) claimed their first division title since 2018 on Saturday night. This was made official when Green Bay (9-6-1) suffered a 41-24 loss to the Ravens at Lambeau Field. This result means the Bears are now in a strong position for the playoffs, with a potential No. 1 seed within their grasp.
To secure the top spot, the Bears need to win their upcoming game in San Francisco, coupled with a Seattle loss to Carolina earlier in the day. Alternatively, they can clinch at least the No. 2 seed with a victory over the 49ers or an Eagles loss to Buffalo on Sunday. It's been a remarkable turnaround for the Bears, who started the season 0-2 under Johnson's leadership.
Since that slow start, the Bears have won nine of their last 11 games, including seven of their last eight. Their resilience is showcased by their ability to come back from trailing in the final two minutes of regulation, achieving the most such victories in the NFL this year and in franchise history. Additionally, they've improved their record in close games, going 6-1 in games decided by five points or fewer, compared to 1-6 last year.
The Bears' offensive prowess is evident, ranking in the top 10 in the NFL for scoring (10th at 25.8 points per game) and total yards (5th at 371.5). This is a significant improvement from their 5-12 record last season, when they finished in the bottom five in both categories. Their defense has also been stellar, leading the league with 31 takeaways and 21 interceptions, while their offense has committed only 10 turnovers, resulting in an NFL-best plus-21 turnover differential.
The Bears' playoff journey will continue after their upcoming game against the 49ers, as they prepare to close the regular season against the Lions at Soldier Field. With the Lions eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to Minnesota on Thursday, the Bears are now focused on securing their position in the postseason.
For more updates and insights, visit ChicagoBears.com/Playoffs.
