The Chicago Bears survived their Thursday night matchup against the New England Patriots to advance to 5-2, but still on the tails of the Minnesota Vikings. But despite this, the Bears have a feeling of a time on the rise about them, and as fans, you can't help but get caught up in the hype. But when you look at the rest of the NFC, the mood can change a little.
The Minnesota Vikings remain the only team in football still with an undefeated record, with the San Francisco 49ers falling to the Atlanta Falcons, and the Kansas City Chiefs taking one on the chin from the Seattle Seahawks.
San Francisco is still the team nobody wants to see in January
The 49ers lead the NFC West with a substantial enough margin that despite the fact that the Niners are going into the bye week, nobody in their division can take the lead. That includes the Super Bowl defending champion Seahawks. San Francisco has put together one of the most impressive offenses in the game, even beating the Seahawks in Seattle. They've even done so when nearly their entire receiver room is either injured or not playing.
The Bears aren't scheduled for a regular season game against the 49ers in 2026, but that's no reason Bears fans shouldn't keep their eye on them. They're very possibly a Super Bowl team, and it's likely that any team in the NFC that wishes to get to the Super Bowl will need to go through San Francisco.
Then there's the threat that's much closer to home: the Minnesota Vikings.
Nobody expected the Vikings to have the best record in the NFL through seven weeks, and certainly not after finishing 9-8, and third in the division in 2025. The Vikings boast one of the best defenses in the game, largely due to Brian Flores running the defense. They've become a blitzing machine, and like the 49ers, they're a team that poses a real threat in January.
The Bears dropped their first matchup against the Vikings back in Week 2, a game that many remember as the one where Caleb Williams went down with a hamstring injury. The game was wet, and in poor conditions. The Bears offense on the field that day was a shadow of the offensive juggernaut they've become.
Luckily, the Bears and the Vikings are guaranteed at least two games per year, and the second one this season just happens to be the final game of the season. Depending on how the rest of the season plays out, that could be a seriously meaningful game for the NFC North, and the NFC at large.
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