The Chicago Bears are coming off a frustrating loss to the San Francisco 49ers, where the defense simply couldn't make a play. Too much pressure was put on Ben Johnson's offense, and the Bears fell just short, getting eliminated from contention for the NFC's top seed. However, this doesn't mean the franchise doesn't have everything to play for in Week 18 with incredibly important seeding implications on the line. A loss would push the Bears into the conference's third seed and possibly spell disaster for the first round.
Fansided's Alex Shapiro perfectly explained this, "A Bears win or Eagles loss next week locks up the 2-seed for Chicago, & a rematch against the Packers at Soldier Field. If the Bears lose and the Eagles win next week, then the Bears fall to 3 and host Rams/49ers/Seahawks." A win for Philadelphia is incredibly likely with the Eagles slated to take on the Washington Commanders in the season's final week. This helps clarify just how urgent Week 18's game against the Detroit Lions is scheduled to be.
Taking on an injury-plagued Green Bay team is far more advantageous than playing against any of the trio of options if the Bears fall to the NFC's third seed. The Rams, in particular, are an unappealing first-round draw, having given a loaded Philadelphia Eagles team all they could handle a season ago. The conditions greatly favored the Eagles, and still, Los Angeles remained a play away from an upset win.
Bears Facing Must-Win Scenario as Potential Playoff Seeding Comes Into Focus
Taking this a step further, if the Eagles win against the Washington Commanders and the Bears drop their final game, this sets up a potential gauntlet. Chicago could be looking at starting the playoffs at home against the Rams, and even if they survive this round would be forced to go on the road to face an incredibly hostile Philadelphia crowd. For a rookie head coach in Ben Johnson and second year quarterback in Caleb Williams, this is obviously far from ideal.
Winning the NFC's second seed not only hands Chicago a chance to play a Green Bay team dealing with a myriad of injuries, but it makes sure the Bears get at least two home playoff games. Both of these factors are incredibly important for a team looking to make a surprise playoff run.
The Bears and Lions played on September 14th, and the Lions won 52-21in a game that can be thrown out, with Chicago still finding its identity. Heading into Week 18, the Bears should be the favorites, but still understanding the implications and expecting Detroit's best shot with the division rival having every reason to want to make the path of their rival all the more difficult. No question, the Bears simply cannot afford a Week 18 loss that would go a long way in undoing a breakout season.