The Chicago Bears finished off the NFC North title on Sunday with a win over the Green Bay Packers, but there is still more work to do if they want to try to earn a first round bye in the NFL playoffs.
To do that, the Bears would need some help, as the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints both have better records than Chicago, but if things break their way, the Bears could be in a good spot moving forward.
Here are the remaining playoff scenarios now that the Bears have guaranteed themselves a division title and at least one home playoff game.
Note: if the Bears lose both of their remaining games to finish at 10-6, the best they can do is finish is third in the conference.
If the Bears and Saints Finish at 12-4
The Bears would get a first round bye in this scenario. This scenario would require the Bears to win their final two games, both of which are against NFC opponents. That would give them a 10-2 record against the NFC, which the Saints would be unable to match in this scenario since they would have to lose at least one game to a conference opponent in the last three weeks of the season, with two games left against the Carolina Panthers and one left against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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If the Bears and Saints Finish at 11-5
The Bears would need a LOT of help in this scenario, since the Saints would have to lose their last three games, but they would win the tiebreaker since the Saints would have an inferior record against the NFC.
If the Bears and Rams Finish in a Two-Way Tie at Either 12-4 or 11-5:
The Bears would win the tiebreaker in both cases since they beat the Rams during the regular season.
If the Bears, Saints, and Rams All Finish at 12-4:
In this scenario, the Rams would have to lose once in their last two games, the Saints would have to lose two of their final three, and the Bears would have to win both of their remaining games. If these scenarios all came to pass, it would give the Bears the top seed in the NFC due to their superior conference record over both teams.
If the Bears and Cowboys Finish at 10-6
The Cowboys would finish ahead of the Bears by virtue of their superior record against the NFC. That would require Dallas to win their final two games, and for the Bears to lose their final two games.
