2025 Schedule/Opponents - Oh boy

[Bears4Ever_34]

Right now, the Bears have 3 likely scenarios to get in:
 

1-Beat GB + SF/DET = clinch division
2-Beat DET = clinch wildcard
3- Beat SF + SF beats SEA = clinch wildcard

The Packers game by itself doesn't guarantee anything other than allowing the Bears to clinch the division the following week.

The last two games are the most important for the tiebreaker, with DET being the most important due to them already having 6 losses. 

Beating just SF and getting in is possible, but they'll need help from SEA.

[BearFan PHX]

And if we end up winning the division and being the second seed, our first playoff game would be hosting GB.
If we end up as a wild card, our first playoff game would be at GB.
There are other scenarios, but like 90% of the outcomes are playing GB one way or another.

[Bears4Ever_34]

3 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

And if we end up winning the division and being the second seed, our first playoff game would be hosting GB.
If we end up as a wild card, our first playoff game would be at GB.
There are other scenarios, but like 90% of the outcomes are playing GB one way or another.

Yeah, it's either going to be GB or SF.

Getting the 1 seed would make it more likely they play the winner of TB/CAR vs PHI in the 2nd round, which would be awesome, but that's an uphill battle still.

[adam]

If 2-0 = #1 seed or #2 seed, 50/50.

If 1-1 = #2 seed, 100. 

If 0-2 = #7 seed or miss playoffs, 75/25. DET needs to win out

[Pixote]

4 minutes ago, adam said:

If 2-0 = #1 seed or #2 seed, 50/50.

If 1-1 = #2 seed, 100. 

If 0-2 = #7 seed or miss playoffs, 75/25. DET needs to win out

And we have arguably our two most challenging games of the season ahead of us.

 

[AZ54]

6 hours ago, Pixote said:

And we have arguably our two most challenging games of the season ahead of us.

 

No.  I think no game will be more challenging than getting the Green Bay monkey off our back.  This was as important a game as you can find in the regular season for making the playoffs plus the history between the two teams.   You can’t come out of this game and not know that you can play with any team in the NFL.  Pitt, Philly, GB, CLE (top D), GB.  We’ve been in the playoffs for weeks.  Now teams have to take us seriously.  

[Stinger226]

Beating the Packers was the most significant game of this year. We have had 3 playoff games, starting with Philly up to now. 

[Pixote]

2 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

Beating the Packers was the most significant game of this year. We have had 3 playoff games, starting with Philly up to now. 

For any Bears fan, this victory was monumental. One I will never forget.

However, IMHO, San Francisco is a far more talented team than any team we have played this year, and who stands in the way of a potential #1 seed for the Bears. Detroit, despite their record, kicked our ass in the first meeting (we are vastly improved since then). I want revenge!

So, yes, I think the next two games could define the Bears as either a good team that missed the playoffs or one that won the NFCN, the #1 seed, and a chance to return to the Super Bowl.

[Bears4Ever_34]

58 minutes ago, Pixote said:

For any Bears fan, this victory was monumental. One I will never forget.

However, IMHO, San Francisco is a far more talented team than any team we have played this year, and who stands in the way of a potential #1 seed for the Bears. Detroit, despite their record, kicked our ass in the first meeting (we are vastly improved since then). I want revenge!

So, yes, I think the next two games could define the Bears as either a good team that missed the playoffs or one that won the NFCN, the #1 seed, and a chance to return to the Super Bowl.

SF's offense always scares me with Shanahan. Purdy eviscerated the Bears last year. The ball barely touched the ground. Obviously, the circumstances were different back then, but his accuracy and downfield throwing scares the heck out of me given how poor this defense has been in giving up explosives.

I don't think their defense is very good, though. They can't rush the passer at all. I expect this offense to move the ball and put up points in this game. I think it could come down to takeaways and time of possession. 

[Bears4Ever_34]

I just realized the Bears could also now clinch a playoff spot with one more Packers loss after last night's victory, and the Packers might have to start Malik Willis against the Ravens next week.