By Ethan Salm
How do the Chicago Bears go about getting a playoff spot?
It is once again that time of the NFL season where some teams have locked in a playoff spot, some teams have been eliminated and some teams are in the hunt. The Chicago Bears fall into that third category. It has been an up and down season for Chicago and they currently sit at 6-6. Here is what they need to do to get in the playoffs:

1. Win out. Yes, this is a lot to ask of this team. If they want to play past week 17 it needs to happen though. Their upcoming schedule is a challenge. The easiest game is Thursday night at Soldier Field against the Dallas Cowboys. Jason Garrett has coached this team into the ground this year. The Cowboys were supposed to be one of the better teams in the NFL and they have the talent to be there. The coaching has not been good, and the Bears can win this game. Next up is the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. This is the tough one. This is where Aaron Rodgers likes to end the Bears season. This game will be tough on both sides and it will be decided by 1 score. These games like to be decided by a swing play in the fourth quarter and the Bears just need to make that play and come out on top. After that the offensive powerhouse from the Show-Me state comes up north as the Bears host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. The old battle of offense versus defense will take center stage. If the Bears defense can control this game, and they have been able to do that against some good offenses, they have a shot. Mitchell Trubisky and the offense will be riding high after 3 straight wins and will be able to outduel Patrick Mahomes because the defense will keep the big plays in check. Finally, the week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium. This game just needs to be a rinse and repeat from last year week 17. The Bears went up north and dominated the Vikings by running the football and strong defense. Do that again and maybe just maybe there’s a chance.
2. Get help from Green Bay (Yes, Green Bay). The Bears can’t do this alone at this point. Just winning out is not enough. The Green Bay Packers need to beat the Minnesota Vikings as well. If the Packers get that done and the Bears win out both the Vikings and Bears will finish at 10-6 with Chicago holding the tiebreaker.
3. Get help from the NFC west, especially Seattle and San Francisco. The Bears loss to the Rams makes this all the more complicated. In addition to everything listed above, the Bears need the Rams to lose twice more. The most logical way this happens is with losses to the Seahawks and Niners. Both of these teams are better and have already beaten LA this year so it’s definitely possible.

The Chicago Bears currently have a 3% chance of making the playoffs and it’s easy to see why. They have a tough schedule ahead and they need plenty of help. It all starts Thursday night. Win one game at a time and hope for help. They probably won’t make it this year but hey, sometimes its fun to speculate.
Edited by Emma Moloney | [email protected]