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The Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 7, and the stakes for this game just got a lot higher.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the Chicago Bears will play one of their most important games of the season so far when they take on the Green Bay Packers. It’s the battle of the NFC North stars, since the Bears are No. 1 with a 9-3 record and the Packers are right behind them at No. 2 with an 8-3 record.
So, this game will help determine the fate of the NFC North. But, there’s also more to it, because this game will change a lot about the Chicago Bears heading into the postseason.
First-year Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, of course, has lots to be proud of no matter what happens on Sunday. The Bears took down the Eagles on Friday, Nov. 28, in a 24-15 final score, and Johnson celebrated by taking his shirt off. .It actually wasn’t planned, either.
“That was a spur of the moment deal, I guess,” Johnson said about that moment. “I figured the sooner the better, because I am not in the weight room very much anymore and so this thing keeps getting a little bit worse as we go along in the season.”
He added, “So, it was good, man. I hate to draw attention away from our players, but the intent was to bring up the city of Chicago and hopefully it gave them a little excitement because they’re a big part of this journey as we’re going through this season also. So, wanted to bring attention to them.”
Chicago Bears’ Game Against the Green Bay Packers Is a Must-Win
The Bears and Packers are rivals in the NFC North, and that makes their matchup crucial, but this time around, there’s even more to it. It may seem early to think about the playoff picture, but it’s not, because every game matters now for the playoff picture.
For this particular game, if the Bears win, their probability of getting to the playoffs goes from 74% to 90%, according to NFL research, almost securing their chances of getting to the postseason. But, if they lose, their chances go down to 67%, which is still good, but it’s not 90%.
For the Packers, if they win, their chances of getting to the playoffs goes from 88% to 94%, giving them a very high probability of making it to the postseason. If they fall, their probability goes down to 75%.
Chicago Bears Are Set If They Win on Sunday
So, while the stakes are high for the Bears. There’s a big difference between 67% and 90%, and we want the latter.
Looking at the rest of the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings are out of playoff contention, while the Detroit Lions‘ chances went up to 54% following their win over the Cowboys.
The Patriots and Broncos have the highest probability of making the playoffs, with both of them being at 99% heading into Week 14. The Jaguars are also strong, holding an 84% chance, and the Eagles still have a 96% shot at getting to the postseason. On top of the Vikings, the other teams who are already out of playoff contention are the Raiders, Saints, Titans, Cardinals and Giants.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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