The Bears finally have fulfilled general manager Ryan Poles’ mission to “take the North” by clinching the division Saturday. With the Packers’ 41-24 loss to the Ravens, it’s a done deal for the 11-4 Bears with a prohibitive lead over the Packers at 9-6-1.
It’s their first NFC North crown since going 12-4 in 2018.
They still have plenty to play for when they visit the 49ers on Sunday and host the Lions in Week 18, but winning the North is a massive accomplishment for a team that finished last in the division each of the previous three seasons under Matt Eberflus.
New coach Ben Johnson has the Bears in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and they will open at home by virtue of winning the division. They’re currently the No. 2 seed and can secure at least that spot with either an Eagles loss to the Bills on Sunday or by beating the 49ers.
The Packers now are locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC, so if the Bears hold at No. 2, they would host them in a wild-card game.
The Seahawks have the top spot at 12-3, putting them in line for a first-round bye and homefield throughout the NFC playoffs. They finish at the Panthers on Sunday and at the 49ers next week.
The majority of the playoff field has been set.
Six NFC teams have clinched a berth, and the last one will go to whoever wins the South out of the Panthers (8-7) and Buccaneers (7-8). Those teams finish the season against each other in Tampa, Fla., and the winner would be the No. 4 seed.
The only AFC spot still open is the North division champion. The Steelers lead at 9-6, followed by the Ravens, who stayed alive by beating the Packers and sit 8-8. The Steelers and Ravens also finish the season against each other.
Four other Bears dealt with sickness this week.
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In this week’s “Polling Place,” we also asked which Chicago pro team had the worst 2025.
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The 49ers await Sunday night.
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