Despite their slow start to the year, the Chicago Bears are still technically in the NFC playoff race with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
At 6-9, the Bears have not yet been eliminated from the postseason. However, they will need nearly everything to go their way over the rest of the campaign to sneak into the dance.
Bears Playoff Scenarios | Week 17 Update
Note that this article was originally published on Dec. 31 before Sunday’s games began. The results of this week’s games are below and will continue to be updated throughout the weekend.
After Week 17, the Bears have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.
Sunday 1 p.m. ET Update
Bears (7-9) defeated Falcons (7-9)
Saints (8-8) defeated Buccaneers (8-8)
Rams (9-7) defeated Giants (5-11)
Sunday 4 p.m. ET Update
Steelers (9-7) defeated Seahawks (8-8)
Sunday Night Football Update
Packers (8-8) defeated Vikings (7-9)
Keep reading below to see the playoff scenarios for the Bears entering Week 17. And head over to PFN’s free NFL Playoff Predictor to test various scenarios and see how they change the playoff picture.
What Are the Chicago Bears’ Playoff Chances and Scenarios Entering Week 17?
Getting into the tournament won’t be easy. The Bears can no longer win the NFC North, which the Detroit Lions clinched with their Week 16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Chicago can only gain access to the playoffs via a Wild Card slot. But Pro Football Network’s simulations aren’t buying the Bears’ chances of making the postseason, giving the club less than a 1% chance of extending its season past Week 18.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Chicago’s playoff scenarios are relatively straightforward entering this weekend’s action. Matt Eberflus’ squad needs to go 2-0 and finish 8-9 to give themselves any real shot of claiming a Wild Card spot this season.
With the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks at 8-7 and four teams at 7-8, it would be a shock if eight wins are enough to get the Bears into the playoffs — but it is possible.
Chicago has a specific path to make the postseason. In addition to winning out, here are the results the Bears will need over the next two weeks:
- Week 17: MIN over GB; NYG over LAR; PIT over SEA; TB over NO
- Week 18: PHI over NYG; SF over LAR; ARZ over SEA
In that scenario, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle would finish with matching 8-9 records. But the Bears would earn the NFC’s seventh seed based on their superior mark inside the conference (7-5 vs. 6-6 vs. 6-6).
Chicago’s schedule is probably the least of its worries. The Bears will play the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers to end the 2023 campaign, neither of whom has a winning record.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!