Postgame update: The Bears thumped the Browns 31-3 to improve to 10-4. Their playoff chances improved to 70% and their chances of winning the division are 27%.
Postgame update 2: With the Packers losing to the Broncos, the Bears are now back atop the NFC North.
The Chicago Bears host the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 as they look to firm up their playoff chances. The Bears nearly pulled off a comeback at Lambeau Field last week, but came up short against the Green Bay Packers. The loss dropped Chicago to 9-4 and snapped a five-game winning streak.
They face a Browns squad that has lost two straight and is coming off an embarrassing home loss to the woeful Titans that dropped Cleveland to 3-10. Shedeur Sanders was a bright spot last week, but the team is playing for draft positioning the final four weeks of the season.
Chicago is a 7.5-point favorite in the matchup.
Chicago Bears playoff picture
The Bears still have a shot at the NFC North title, but they currently sit a half game back of the Packers. The good news for Chicago is they get a home game against Green Bay next week. The Packers are traveling to Denver this week, which will be a tough matchup for them. Green Bay is a 2.5-point favorite. If they lose and the Bears win, that Week 16 matchup would give the Bears a chance to take firm control of the division. The playoff simulator over at The Athletic projects them as having a 22% chance of winning the division and hosting a wild card team in the first round. If they beat the Browns, that chance increases to 25%, while if they lose to the Browns, that chance decreases to 12%.
The Bears are tied with the 49ers in the wild card standings, but San Francisco gets the lead due to their respective conference records. That likely won’t matter in the end because the Bears and 49ers face off in Week 17. If the Bears win and the Packers lose on Sunday, Chicago would move into the No. 2 seed. The playoff simulator gives the Bears a 44% chance of claiming a wild card berth and a 4% chance at the No. 1 seed. If they beat the Browns, those numbers increase to 46% and 6%, respectively. If they lose to the Browns, those numbers drop to 41% and less than one percent.
This game likely has no impact on tiebreakers. The Browns are a common opponent with the Packers, but the tie on Green Bay’s record means we probably won’t see them going to a tiebreaker with Chicago. They’re also a common opponent with the 49ers, but the head-to-head matchup in Week 17 will be the tiebreaker there, barring a tie.
