Bears Still in the NFC North Hunt, But the Road Ahead Is No Cakewalk
Sunday’s showdown between the Bears and Packers had all the makings of a classic NFC North battle-and it delivered. But for Chicago, the ending was a gut punch.
A late-game opportunity to tie or even win slipped away when rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw a pick on a potential game-tying drive. Final score: Packers 28, Bears 21.
That loss drops Chicago to 9-4 on the season, while Green Bay moves into the division lead at 9-3-1. With the Lions sitting just behind at 8-5, the NFC North is shaping up to be one of the tightest races in football heading into the final month.
**The Math Is Simple. The Execution?
Not So Much. **
The good news for Bears fans: the division title is still very much in play. Chicago doesn’t need any miracles or scoreboard watching-just wins. Four of them, to be exact.
If the Bears run the table and finish 13-4, they’ll leapfrog both the Packers and Lions for the NFC North crown. Even if Green Bay wins out, a Week 16 loss to Chicago would give the Bears the edge. That’s the beauty of having another head-to-head matchup still on the calendar.
Of course, that’s all easier said than done.
A Gauntlet to the Finish Line
Chicago’s final four games are anything but a soft landing. It starts in Week 15 with a home game against the Cleveland Browns.
On paper, it looks like the most manageable matchup left-but don’t let Cleveland’s 3-10 record fool you. That defense is legit, and rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is coming off a performance that turned heads across the league.
If the Bears overlook this one, they could be in for a rude awakening.
After that, the real test begins: Green Bay at Soldier Field, followed by a trip to face the 9-4 San Francisco 49ers, and a regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions. That’s three playoff-caliber teams, all with something to play for, and no margin for error.
The Packers game in Week 16 will be pivotal. Not just because of the rivalry or the playoff implications, but because it could swing the division.
A win there, and Chicago controls its destiny. A loss?
Suddenly the Bears are hoping for help-a position no team wants to be in this late in the year.
Caleb Williams’ Learning Curve
Sunday’s loss wasn’t all on Williams, but that final throw was a reminder that even the most talented rookies have growing pains. He’s shown plenty of promise this season, and he’s already proven he can make plays most quarterbacks wouldn’t dare attempt.
But in the NFL, December is where reputations are made. If the Bears are going to make a serious run, Williams will need to play his cleanest, most composed football down the stretch.
One Game at a Time
The path is clear: win out, and the Bears are NFC North champs. Drop even one, and things get murky fast. The margin for error is gone, but the opportunity is still right in front of them.
This is where contenders separate themselves. Chicago has the talent. Now it’s about execution, resilience, and seizing the moment-starting with a tricky matchup against a better-than-their-record Browns team.
Four games. One goal. The Bears are still in it-but they’ll have to earn every yard from here on out.