The NFC playoff picture just got a lot more interesting-and a lot more crowded-after Sunday’s results. With the Detroit Lions falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-24, both the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers officially punched their tickets to the postseason.
But don’t expect either team to be satisfied with just making it in. There’s still plenty left to play for, including a potential run at the NFC’s top seed.
Bears and 49ers Clinch, but Stakes Are Still Rising
Right now, the Bears sit as the No. 2 seed in the NFC, with the 49ers holding the No. 6 spot. That could all change next week when the two teams square off in primetime on Sunday Night Football. It’s a heavyweight matchup with massive implications-not just for seeding, but potentially for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Seattle Seahawks currently hold the NFC’s top seed at 12-3, but they’ve still got road games against the Panthers and 49ers on the schedule. That leaves the door wide open for movement at the top.
Bears Take Control of the North
The Bears (11-4) are riding high after a dramatic 22-16 overtime win over the rival Packers on Saturday night. It was the kind of gritty, emotional win that can define a season-and it officially locked up the NFC North.
First-year head coach Ben Johnson has been the spark this franchise needed. The Bears are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and if they can notch a win in the postseason, it would be their first playoff victory in 15 years. That’s a long drought in a city that lives and breathes football.
Johnson’s debut campaign has been nothing short of remarkable. When the Bears got steamrolled by the Lions 52-21 back in Week 2, this kind of turnaround didn’t seem remotely possible.
But the team never folded. Instead, they rallied around Johnson’s detail-oriented approach and built a belief system that’s been missing in Chicago for years.
They’ve won games in just about every way imaginable-blocking a field goal, nailing walk-off kicks, pulling off a 58-yard miracle touchdown in Cincinnati, and most recently, storming back from a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes to stun Green Bay in overtime with a 46-yard walk-off score.
This is a team with a defense that leads the league in takeaways, a rebuilt offensive line that’s powering a physical run game, and a quarterback who’s proven he can deliver in the biggest moments. The Bears are no longer a feel-good story-they’re a legitimate threat.
49ers: Battling Through Injuries, Still in the Hunt
The 49ers (10-4) haven’t had it easy this season. Injuries have hit hard-losing stars like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner for the year would be enough to derail most teams. But San Francisco has found a way to stay in the fight, and now they’re heading to the playoffs for the fifth time in seven seasons.
They’ll face the Colts on Monday night, and with matchups against the Bears and Seahawks still looming, the Niners control their own destiny. Win out, and not only could they take the NFC West, but they might just snag the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.
The defense is starting to get some reinforcements, with Tatum Bethune and Yetur Gross-Matos expected back soon. But make no mistake-this team will go as far as the offense can carry them. They’ve averaged 31 points per game during their current four-game winning streak, though tight end George Kittle was quick to point out that those numbers came against some less-than-stellar defenses.
That’s about to change. With the Colts, Bears, and Seahawks on deck, the 49ers will be tested.
The good news? The offensive line is starting to gel at the right time, and if that group can keep the momentum going, San Francisco has the firepower to hang with anyone.
Lions on Life Support
As for Detroit, Sunday’s loss was a gut punch. Now sitting at 8-7, the Lions’ playoff chances have dropped to around 6 percent, according to projections. They’ll need to win out-against the Vikings and Bears-and hope the Packers lose to both the Ravens and Vikings to have any shot at sneaking in.
It’s a steep climb, and the margin for error is gone.
With two weeks left in the regular season, the NFC playoff race is heating up in a big way. The Bears and 49ers have secured their spots, but the battle for seeding-and possibly home-field advantage-is just getting started. And with a massive showdown looming next Sunday night, we’re about to find out which of these teams is ready to make a serious run in January.