According to ESPN’s analytics, Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field it pretty simple … and definitive.
The Chicago Bears upset the Green Bay Packers and they have a 60-percent chance of winning the NFC North and a whopping 81-percent chance of making the playoffs. A loss drops those percentages significantly to 20 to win the division and only 51 of making the playoffs.
It’s not a dreaded “must win” but …
For all of its 8-1 stretch and free hot dogs and shirtless head-coach stunts, the Bears have merely put themselves in position to do something special. And, to be honest, most NFL analysts and oddsmakers don’t think they’ll win. A betting line that opened with Green Bay favored by only a field goal has steadily ballooned to almost a touchdown.
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By Sunday night the Bears could be 10-3 with a stranglehold on the division and an inside track to keeping the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Or they could need some help from the weekend’s other NFL results.
A look at other games that could benefit Chicago regardless of their outcome in Green Bay:
Falcons over Seahawks
Seattle is 9-3 and tied with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West. If they fail to win their division, they could wind up fighting the Bears for a Wild Card berth.
Saints over Buccaneers
We know, this chances of this happening are about as long as this game effecting the Bears’ ultimate standing. But since we’re being greedy, a win by Tampa Bay would improve it to 8-5 and firmly among NFC Wild Card contenders.
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Cardinals over Rams
See Seattle above. A win by L.A. would improve it to 10-3, strengthening it as a division winner or as a strong Wild Card No. 1 team. The Bears could also use a loss here by the Rams in case the two teams are jostling for the NFC’s No. 1 seed come January.
Chargers over Eagles
Another loss by Philly – couple with Chicago’s head-to-head win – would put the Bears in all types of edges in tiebreakers with the Eagles.
D’Andre Swift | Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images