The Chicago Bears suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, and while they had already clinched the NFC North regardless, they are still playing for seeding.
The Bears are currently the No. 2 seed in the conference, and while they can’t get the 1-seed at this point, they may very well want to stave off the Philadelphia Eagles to hold serve in their current position.
So with there still technically being something to play for against the Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale, head coach Ben Johnson has made his intentions clear.
“We’re playing to win this week,” Johnson told reporters.
Given Johnson’s competitive nature in and of itself, this should not come as too much of a surprise. Plus, the Lions thumped Chicago by a score of 52-21 back in Week 3, so the Bears may have revenge on their minds here.
How much does Week 18 matter for the Chicago Bears?
Jul 24, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson speaks during training camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Make no mistake about it: Johnson and the Bears care about Week 18.
Not only is a No. 2 seed on the line, but so are bragging rights against a hated NFC North rival, not to mention the fact that Chicago certainly does not want to enter the playoffs riding a two-game losing streak.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers absolutely lit up the Bears’ defense this past Sunday, so Chicago would surely like to get itself back on track, especially considering how inexperienced the team is as a whole.
Now, would the Bears keep their starters on the field if the game turns into a blowout? Probably not. Avoiding injury is still the most important factor, and Chicago can’t be foolish. But it would have been very surprising if Johnson decided to mail it in this coming weekend.
The Bears just captured their first division title since 2018 and are aiming to win their first playoff game since January 2011.
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