The NFC playoff race this year is all over the place, and Thursday night's game between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks perfectly embodies just how insane these final three weeks of regular-season play will be in the NFC. The Rams and Seahawks both entered last night's game with 11-3 records, so maybe most Bears fans weren't as interested as they should have been, but the Seahawks overtime victory against Los Angeles opened up the Bears window to take the NFC's top spot.
So, how exactly does Seattle winning against the Rams help the Bears? Well, it has everything to do with the remaining schedules of the Rams and Seahawks. Los Angeles' final two games are against the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons, while Seattle's final two games are against the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. Obviously, no game in the NFL should ever be considered a "free" win, but you would expect the Rams to handle business to close the regular season, whereas the Seahawks' final two games are against teams that still have playoff hopes alive and well. Had Los Angeles won on Thursday night, they would likely have finished the season 14-3, giving the 4-loss Bears no chance at the 1 seed.
How the Bears Can Fulfill Their Hopes of Being a 1 Seed
As it currently stands, Chicago is atop the NFC North with a 10-4 record. They're tied for the third-best record in the entire NFC, but they sit as the No. 2 seed as both teams ahead of them, the Rams and Seahawks, play in the NFC West.
Most Bears fans are simply hoping Chicago can make the playoffs, and fairly so, but why not hope for the 1 seed and playoff bye if it's still an option at this point? First and foremost, Chicago needs to win out. There is still a mathematical path to the 1 seed if they don't, but you're then relying too much on other teams. Controlling their own destiny is the top priority, but it won't be easy with the games remaining on their schedule. The Bears' final three opponents are the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions, all teams that are in the mix of the NFC playoff race. If the Bears can emerge victorious in all three contests, they would finish atop the NFC North with a 13-4 record, but the No. 1 seed would be far from guaranteed.
Another major point to note here is that Seattle has complete control of its own destiny. If they win out, they are the NFC's No. 1 seed regardless. While it may be a long shot, the Seahawks' win last night has given the Bears a real chance, and they better not waste it. Three Bears wins, and a Seattle loss vs San Francisco is a very real possibility.
While it's fun for fans to think of scenarios like this, if you're Ben Johnson and the Bears, you're not thinking about these scenarios. Your only job is to win out, and you hope the rest can figure itself out in your favor. It all starts tomorrow night against the Packers. With a win tomorrow night, Chicago's dreams remain alive. With a loss, their playoff hopes in general could be in trouble.