Why Bears Fans Might (Reluctantly) Cheer for Aaron Rodgers This Sunday
Yes, you read that right. Bears fans might find themselves in the unfamiliar - and frankly uncomfortable - position of rooting for Aaron Rodgers this weekend.
The same Rodgers who’s tormented Chicago for over a decade. The same Rodgers who once famously declared, “I own you,” to a stunned Soldier Field crowd.
But as strange as it sounds, the Chicago Bears' playoff hopes could get a major boost from a Steelers win - with Rodgers now under center in Pittsburgh.
Here’s how it all breaks down.
The Bears Are on the Brink
After pulling off a dramatic win over the Packers on Saturday night - a game that felt like a symbolic turning of the page - the Bears are now sitting in a strong position in the NFC playoff race. That victory didn’t just come with bragging rights; it tightened their grip on the NFC North and moved them one step closer to locking up the conference’s top seed.
But they’re not quite there yet.
To officially punch their ticket to the postseason, Chicago needs a little help - and that help could come from the most unlikely of sources.
Rodgers Could Clinch It for Chicago
If the Steelers take down the Lions in Week 16, the Bears will officially clinch a playoff berth. That’s right: a win by Rodgers, the longtime villain in Chicago’s football story, could be the key to sending the Bears back to the postseason.
It’s the kind of twist that only the NFL can deliver - poetic, ironic, and just a little bit painful for fans who’ve spent years watching Rodgers crush their dreams in a Packers uniform.
But this time, his success could be Chicago’s gain.
What’s at Stake for the Lions and Steelers
This isn’t just about the Bears. Both the Lions and the Steelers are playing for high-stakes outcomes of their own.
Detroit enters Sunday clinging to playoff hopes from the outside, currently sitting in the No. 8 spot in the NFC wild-card standings. A loss to Pittsburgh wouldn’t eliminate them outright, but it would make their path to the postseason a whole lot tougher. The pressure is on.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is leading the AFC North and trying to hold off the Ravens. Thanks to a head-to-head win over Baltimore earlier in the season, the Steelers have the tiebreaker edge - for now. That could change in Week 18 when the two teams meet again, but a win this Sunday would give Pittsburgh a little more breathing room.
Even if the Steelers lose to the Lions, they’ll stay in first place. But with the Ravens facing the Patriots on Sunday night, Pittsburgh has a real chance to create some separation in the division race.
A Strange Alliance, Just This Once
Let’s be honest: there’s no universe where Bears fans will ever truly root for Aaron Rodgers. The history runs too deep, the scars too fresh. But if a Steelers win means Chicago locks in a playoff spot, maybe - just maybe - fans can tolerate one Sunday of pulling for No. 12 in black and gold.
It’s not about forgiveness. It’s about football.
And if Rodgers can help the Bears get to the postseason - even indirectly - well, that’s a twist no one saw coming.
So go ahead, Bears fans. Hold your nose, grit your teeth, and (quietly) hope the Steelers get it done. Just this once.