Everything continues to fall into the Chicago Bears favor, especially over the last few weeks. Despite a disappointing loss to the New York Giants in Week 13, all but one playoff contender below the Bears lost. In this past week? The same results, except Chicago, was able to pull out an upset victory of their own, against the Los Angeles Rams.

Now, there are three games left in the 2018 regular season and the Bears currently sit about as favorable as one possibly can, without already have clinched a playoff spot. For a deeper look at the current NFC playoff picture, let’s dive in.

NFC North Outlook: Magic Number (1)

Here are the current NFC North standings:

Chicago (9-4)

Minnesota (6-6-1) -(2.5)

Green Bay (5-7-1) -(3.5)

Detroit (5-8) -(4)

As seen above, the Bears currently hold a commanding lead within the division, having already eliminated both the Packers and Lions from NFC North contention for the season. They also hold a (2.5) game lead over the Vikings with three games to go.

This means because of the Vikings tie, they are still technically in the mix for the division but because there are only three games left, it would take them winning out and the Bears losing out for them to win the division. How possible is that? Highly unlikely, especially considering the Bears don’t currently play a team over .500 the rest of the year, while the Vikings play two (Dolphins and Bears).

How can the Bears clinch the division:

With a win

With a Vikings loss (Vs Dolphins on Sunday)

Even better? It would be against a (5-7-1) Packers team that has yet to win on the road in 2018. On the flip side, the Bears are an impressive (6-1) at home this year and will be looking to avenge their Week 1 heartbreaking loss to this same team.

Now it’s worth noting that the Bears have not beat the Packers at Soldier Field in the past eight tries but things just feel a little different this year. And despite there not really being much on the line for the Packers, this is one of the best rivalries in sports. Which should make this yet another fun game to watch.

The likelihood of clinching Sunday:

Very good. Whether that comes from a Bears win or a Vikings loss, both have been working in the team’s favor as of late. If I were you, I wouldn’t be making any plans this Sunday. Except to celebrate.

NFC Wild Card Outlook: Magic Number (1)

For the Bears to even have to worry about this scenario, it would take a historically improbable turn of events. By that, I mean losing all three games and the Vikings win out. Even then, unless the Redskins win out as well (which seems highly unlikely given they are on their fourth quarterback in the last four games), the Bears will clinch at least a playoff spot in the next few weeks.

Even so, let’s take a look at the current Wild Card standings because things have really clumped together for that last spot over the past two games.

WC1: Seattle (8-5)

WC2: Minnesota (6-6-1)

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Carolina (6-7)

Philadelphia (6-7)

Washington (6-7)

Green Bay (5-7-1)

Barring an unforeseen collapse, the Seahawks are in. Not only do they have a (1.5) game lead over Minnesota, they also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker (although it means nothing as of now).

That leaves five teams within a game of each other for that final Wild Card spot. The Vikings still sit in the driver’s seat but the gap has closed over the past few weeks, especially with their two-game losing streak. I think it’s safe to count out the Redskins at this point, due to their health situation. The Vikings also hold a (2) game lead over the Packers due to the head-to-head tiebreaker, as well.

That ultimately leaves three teams.

Vikings (Vs Dolphins, At Lions, Vs Bears)

Panthers (Vs Saints, Vs Falcons, At Saints)

Eagles (At Rams, Vs Texans, At Redskins)

None of the three teams remaining schedules are a walk in the park but I still believe the edge goes to the Vikings as of now. Especially with the Panthers currently on a five-game losing streak and the Eagles failing to break out of their Super Bowl hangover.

Potential Playoff Seeding

Barring a collapse at the top, it appears the top two are locked up in some way. Whether it be the Saints and then the Rams or vice versa, things appear to be settled in terms of first-round byes.

Things get a bit closer when looking at the third and fourth seeds, with the Bears and Cowboys playing their best football of the season. Let’s take a deeper look at the current NFC playoff seeding.

New Orleans (11-2) (Won head-to-head tiebreaker)

Los Angeles (11-2)

Chicago (9-4)

Dallas (8-5)

Seattle (8-5)

Minnesota (6-6-1)

What it would take for the Bears to get a first-round bye:

To be blunt, it’s a complete long shot.

Even so, it would take either one of the Rams (vs Eagles, At Cardinals, Vs 49ers) or the Saints (At Panthers, Vs Steelers, Vs Panthers) to lose two of their last three and of course, the Bears would need to win out.

Is it possible? Yes. It is likely? Not at all.

The good news? If the Bears somehow finishing with the same record as either of the top two teams, they would win the tie-breaker due to either head-to-head or a superior conference record.

Likely path to the Super Bowl

More than likely, the Bears will finish as the third seed. It’s still possible that the Cowboys could jump up to that spot and it’s also key to remember that in most scenarios, they hold the tie-breaker over Chicago.

With that being said, I’d be somewhat surprised if the seeding at the top changes too much. Assuming things stay the same, this would be the most likely road to the Super Bowl for the Bears:

Wild Card Round: Vs Vikings

Divisional Round: At Rams

Conference Round: At Saints

It won’t be an easy road but unlike high powered offenses, elite defenses travel well. Regardless of the weather.

Overall Outlook

All in all, the Bears have exceeded even the highest of expectations this year. Not only are they damn near playoff bound for the first time since 2010 but they are set to be a division winner and host a home playoff game.

Even for someone as optimistic as myself, this was more than I could have asked for in year-one of the Matt Nagy era.

Expectations have somewhat changed as the year has passed but here’s my approach as they head into the playoffs:

Getting there is great and regardless of what happens from here on out, this season has been a giant success. With that being said, I would be lying if I said that I wouldn’t be disappointed if they didn’t win a playoff game. I’m not expecting a Super Bowl win by any means but the Bears are one of the best teams in the league. That’s not something many expected heading into the year.

?Regardless, the future is bright and weirdly enough, the Bears are in a surprisingly good position as they inch toward the playoffs.