Not gonna lie, it’s a little hard to get into this game because I simply don’t know what Lions’ team is going to run out of the tunnel.
Will they be like the Bears last year vs Pack in the finale desperately trying to play spoilers even if it only involved some marginal playoff seeding?
Or will Dan Campbell rest his MASH unit and call it a season, maybe even doing a small favor to his former OC Ben Johnson? I mean, the last thing Campbell would want is Goff tearing his achilles in a meaningless game [Remember when Lovie made Lach play the last game, and he INJed himself and was never really the same?]
The seeding is relatively simple now. Seattle clinched #1 Seed [that D impressed]. Bears currently hold tie breaker over Eagles for the #2 Seed, so if both win out, Bears are #2. If Eagles tie/lose, Bears are #2.
As for who the Bears will face as the #2 Seed, well, that’s a bit more complicated which I’m sure the pregame shows will math ad nauseum, but suffice it to say, Bears will likely host a game vs Packers which would be insane.
9ers and Rams are also possibilities. Sadly, not which ever NFCS team limp-dicks in.
✶ Sports Mockery ✶@sportsmockery·16h
Here are the odds for who the Bears might face in the first round:
Green Bay Packers: 78%
They are the clear favorite if the Bears win against Detroit or if Philadelphia loses. The Packers are already locked in at the #7 seed.
San Francisco 49ers: 13%
If the Bears lose to Detroit and Philadelphia wins, they will drop to #3. Seattle wins and the Rams beat Arizona also affects this.
Los Angeles Rams: 9%
Similar scenario as with the 49ers; Bears drop to #3 if they lose to Detroit and Philadelphia wins. If the 49ers win or if Seattle wins and the Rams lose to Arizona, this also matters.
I’m interested in Ben Johnson’s strategy.
Will he follow the Belichick way of playing all the starters to keep them sharp for the playoffs?
Or will he choose to rest players since they aren’t the #1 seed and don’t have a bye?
Maybe he’ll find a middle ground and rest some injured players and older veterans who usually would play.
Ultimately, the main goal is to win and stay healthy.
The Bears will need every advantage in the playoffs since they’ve exceeded expectations all year.
Can you believe it’s already 2026? Man, this year zoomed by. From a Bears’ fan point of view, we went from 7 win expectations, to maybe a winning season, to – hey, Wild Card is entirely in the realm of possibility – to holy shit, NFCN champs; maybe we can win it all!
It’s been a crazy ride, and no matter what, it was fun. It’s not often life pleasantly shocks. May the Cinderella season continue, and a happy New Year!
Bears’ D still as awful as it was pre-bye, and even a pick-6 wasn’t enough to mask it.
Dline pushed around. Bad angles. Slow recognition. Loose coverage.
Pass rush non-existent, and run defense a sieve.
Only thing that slowed down 9ers was their INJs.
It’s hard to imagine this team getting to SB with such a sub-par defense, but one must also remember that the Bears were, again, a throw away from stealing a victory against an 11-win team competing for the #1 seed at their house.
Gotta trust that both Ben Johnson and more specifically Dennis Allen can learn from the beating and adapt.
Game preview? Stop Christian McCaffrey on the ground and through the air. Purdy is efficient, but he’s not super-mobile and can throw some INTs if pressured.
Hopefully, BJ/Caleb start cooking early and deliver 4 complete QTRs of scoring, preferably by running over 9ers [minimal cuteness, por favor].
Bears have 3 seed locked up.
One more Eagles loss or one more Bears win and Chicago locks up 2 seed.
1 Seed:
Seattle wins out, they have 1 seed.
SF wins out, they have 1 seed.
If Bears lose to SF, 1 seed dreams are over.
If Bears win out, Sea loses 1 gm, Bears are 1 seed.
We’re all going to be Panthers’ fan for a day. We’ll find out if SEA loses, and if Bears are playing for the #1 seed [and 9ers possibly for the NFCW] by kickoff.
Let’s roll!
TRENDING: The Chicago #Bears WAGS made a TikTok video in the middle of the game from their suite at a game recently.
Been away and busy, so I’ll do a Laconian 9er preview manana, but from what I gather, it no longer matters if the Puke win unless they’re shooting for the NFCN, but gotta think, with all the INJs which Loins suffered, and out of the playoffs, doubt they play Goff or any marginal starter, eying 2026 [I agree with other regs that their ‘window’ has been shut, but that’s off-season banter].
As such, Puke may be resigned with the WC.
I would still love for the Bears to win the #1 seed, so, beat the 9ers, because playing a team thrice, esp div rivals in one season is dicey AF.
I wish Data were here to give the %, but from memory, facing a team twice then in the playoffs is a coin-flip regardless of all other factors.
So Sat games may not matter as much.
The Sun night game much more vital, + SEA loss.
That extra week would also buy some time for Gordon, Rome, et al, to return when it REALLY matters.
Like most, gonna be busy for a few days, so just wanna give a quick thanks to all the regs [and lurkers] for being part of a special season no matter how it ends; though obviously, a SB would make it magical!
So enjoy the eggnog, crazy uncles and football games. Cheers.
Since the NFL merger in 1970, just 43 of 422 teams made the playoffs after an 0-2 start, a percentage of just 10.1%
Bears have won 6 games trailing inside 2minutes. That’s impossible – Collinsworth
Final (OT) – Bears 22, Packers 16 📉
The @ChicagoBears' win probability was as low as 0.5% before recovering an onside kick coming out of the two-minute warning (trailing 16-9 w/2 timeouts). This is the 5th-most improbable win in the NGS era (since 2016).
McManus kicked an easy 28 YD FG to go up 16-3 with 5:03 left and two Bear TOs. I turn to the girl realizing this isn’t good and say, “We’re going to need a miracle, ” She adds “Christmas miracle?” “Yeah, a few, plural, actually.”
Mini-miracle #1. With about 4:57 left, the Bears [1/7 on 3rd/10 penalties 105 yds til this point] drive down the field and get within “FG Range.”
I put that in quotes because supposedly the wind was whipping up to 25 MPHs as we saw plastic cups whirling around like pigeons. So this 43 YD attempt with 2:04 left was mini-miracle #2.
I was IRATE screaming at the TV scaring all 7 rescue cats; the “hurricane” drill was too slow. Kicking unit needed to drill it well before the 2 min mark if the Bears wanted to stop the Packers on their ensuing possession with the 2 MIN as a defacto TO. I figured this is all but over. I was resigned. “Same ole Bears…pass the eggnog.”
This forced BJ to onside kick it. I don’t think he onsides it if he had the 2 MIN warning mark.
Teams were 4 for 47 in successfully recovering an onside kick [which now have to be telegraphed to opponents].
That’s an 8% success rate for us math challenged.
So the Bears with 1:59 line up for an onside. And somehow, someway, RECOVER IT.
Major Christmas miracle #3!
Relive the Chicago Bears miraculous comeback… Moneyball style.
Now the Bears had to matriculate about 52 YDs in 1:56 and two TOs [did I mention it was frigid and windy?]
They get the ball to the 14 with 28 secs left. 4rth and 4. Free blind-side blitzer. Caleb must throw off his backfoot drifting to his right, “Shit”. The ball looks like it’s sailing… then miracle #4. Some no-name rookie UDFA, only playing because both Rome and Burden are out, is wiiide open and the ball doesn’t sail but drops right into Walker‘s hands as he toe taps for the TD equalizing the game!
I start jumping up and down freaking out the rest of the cats – except the big fat fluffy one sprawled asleep on the couch, paws up.
I refer to her family as the KKK [Krazy Kat Kult].
“Christmas Miracle!” I shout. They obviously think I’ve lost my mind nonetheless get excited.
“No way…” she says under her breath “See what I mean about cardiac Bears?” I excitedly respond, relieved as much jubilant.
I’m standing up now leaving the couch to the oblivious blissful felines.
Going to OT. “Serenity now…serenity now…”
Bears win coin-flip [minor-miracle #5 since this will allow Ben Johnson to essentially use 4 downs on offense. This shouldn’t be overlooked].
Packers get ball. Montez Sweat utterly destroys their RT, sacking back-up Malik Willis and seemingly hurting his shoulder. [At this point I should probably include Austin Booker kill-shotting Jordan Love, literally knocking him out of the game, as minor-miracle #6].
Montez Sweat this year so far
-44 TOT -16 QBH -13 TFL -9.5 sacks (8.5 in the last 10 G) -5 PD -3 FF -1 FR -1 game saving sack to force OT (here)
What a bounce back year for him. And s/o Dennis Allen for unlocking him in this scheme https://t.co/MYhymesR3g
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) December 21, 2025
Despite this, Willis still gets the Pack to about their 42.
6:58 in OT. 3rd and 1. “Not a chance they stop them from getting 1-yd two downs in a row.”
Naturally, I’m talking to the TV per protocal, to which she interjects, “You’re like that commercial where you think the players can hear you!”
I forgot if I chuckled or totally ignored her zeroing in on the screen.
Willis takes the snap, scrambles – stopped. That shoulder may have slowed him down just enough on a cold night for TJ Edwards to stonewall him.
4rth and 1, naturally, Matt LeFleur is going for it.
Fumbled snap!
Miracle #-lucky 7!
I’m fist-pumping air trying not to curse like a sailor and appear the complete maniac. This is why I usually watch these games alone, but she made me a delectable hoagie and wings, so least I can do is not show-up shirtless and painted like Puddy.
Bears’ ball. 5:38 left in OT. 3rd and 3. Kyle Monangai shoots right up the middle to about Bears’ 53.
1st and 10, figure, Bears are just going to keep pounding it, bleeding the clock. They only need a FG, after all.
Apparently this is what the Packers assumed as well, as Caleb extends like a handoff to Monangai. The safeties bite, he pulls it down – launches:
Ben Johnson had been waiting for the Packers to be in this “low quarters” look all game long. #DaBears
Bears get in 13 personnel and go heavy play action at the perfect time & the safeties are at 6 yards on the snap 👀
This play will forever live in Chicago memory as “The Throw” or “The Catch”. TBH, I don’t even know which of the two was more remarkable. It may have been the most clutch play in Chicago sports, ever? Well, at least in decades.
That ball seemingly floated in the wind for eternities. “No way…” I gasped.
Then when I saw DJ laying there on his back half-dead, “No way…” I whispered, almost like a prayer.
DJ, in the endzone, rolls over, flops arms out…football drops as the ref runs by gloved hands in air…
“TD! TD! TD!” holy shit! this was one of the most ecstatic sport’s moments in my life.
Right up there with Hester opening the SB with a KO TD return. Right up there with Mike Tyson uppercutting [insert name], Kirk Gibson pumping his arms around the bases, MJ hitting that shot vs CLE… I wasn’t old enough for Miracle on Ice, but fuck it, throw that in retroactively.
DJ laying there like the Undertaker reminded me of when they carried MJ off the court in his flu-game.
It is perhaps the most fitting metaphor for us Bear fans up to now.
Just emotionally and maybe physically and psychically drained. Not just from this ’25 season, but perhaps for the past cumulative FORTY years [since ’85], and definitely for the past Favre-Rodgers’ era where the Packers have seemingly defeated the Bears in every soul-crushing fashion imaginable [Blocked FGs, Conte, Smoking Jay riding an exercise bike on the sidelines….].
I ran out of “Fuck yeahs!” or “Can’t believe this!” or “No way in hell!” or “Are you freaking kidding me!”
I was depleted of exclamation marks which were equal parts disbelief, terror and rapture.
Somewhere in the distance I faintly heard, “10 of 10, A+ Throw…the throw of Caleb William’s life. The catch of DJ Moore’s life…”
Like DJ, I just wanted to lay down, rest and/or absorb it all.
And like DJ, my circle probably had to also ask, “are you good?” before stabbing me through the sternum with adrenaline like in “Pulp Fiction”.
Bears win. Bears win. Bears win. #1 in division. Knock down bitter rivals to 7th circle of hell. Still in the hunt for the #1 over-all seed. All on prime-time for the world to witness on a Saturday Night.
Bears like DJ resurrected.
Cold dish of vengeance dealt by the chilly arm of the Iceman.
"Cardiac" Caleb Williams when trailing this season:
