The Chicago Bears have guaranteed their spot in the 2025 NFL playoffs, but there are still a few different possible outcomes for them heading into their final game of the regular season against the Detroit Lions in Week 18.
The Bears could finish with one of two possible seeds — the No. 2 seed or the No. 3 seed — and play one of three potential opponents in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs, depending on which seed they ultimately land at the end of January 4’s games.
Here’s a breakdown of the Bears’ playoff scenarios before their 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff:
Scenario 1: The Bears finish as the No. 2 seed & host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC wild-card round
GettyPackers quarterback Jordan Love.
The first scenario is the simplest for Chicago. The Bears will clinch the No. 2 seed and possess home-field advantage until at least the conference championship round if either they beat the Lions or the Washington Commanders topple the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Bears have stated that they are playing to win against the Lions in Week 18, so the easiest way to the 2-seed is simply getting the job done against Detroit. If they do not win, though, they will need help from the Commanders, who are playing an Eagles squad that has already announced its intention to rest its starters in the matchup.
The Eagles (11-5) will kick off against the Commanders (4-12) at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Clinching scenario: The Bears win OR the Eagles lose.
Scenario 2: The Bears finish as the No. 3 seed & host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC wild-card round
GettyRams head coach Sean McVay.
The other two scenarios are where things get a little more complicated. The only way that the Bears clinch the No. 3 seed and play out either Scenario 2 or Scenario 3 is if they lose to the Lions and the Eagles’ backups win at home over the Commanders.
That’s a bit of a long shot as is.
If the Bears do finish as the 3-seed, though, they will have the possibility of playing one of two NFC West opponents: the Los Angeles Rams or the San Francisco 49ers.
For the Bears to draw L.A. in the wild-card round, the Rams would need to lose their Week 18 home game against the Arizona Cardinals and fall into the No. 6 seed.
The Rams (11-5) will take on the Cardinals (3-13) at 4:25 p.m. ET.
Clinching scenario: The Bears and Rams both lose and the Eagles win.
Scenario 3: The Bears finish as the No. 3 seed & host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC wild-card round
Getty49ers veteran tight end George Kittle.
Once again, the Bears would need to clinch the No. 3 seed for this scenario to even have a chance of becoming a reality. After that point, though, it all comes down to the Rams.
For the Bears to draw the Niners in the wild-card round, the Rams would need to beat the Cardinals at home on Sunday and clinch the No. 5 seed for themselves. That chain of events would knock the 49ers — who lost to Seattle on Thursday Night Football — down to the 6-seed and force them to face the Bears for the second time in three weeks.
The Cardinals’ lowly record suggests Scenario 3 has a greater chance of happening than Scenario 2 for the Bears, as the Rams should not have any trouble beating their rival.
Either way, with all of the consequential NFC games kicking off in the same time slot, the Bears should know their seed and opponent shortly after their game finishes up.
Clinching scenario: The Bears lose and the Eagles and Rams both win.
Bears Playoff Scenarios: Possible Opponents & Week 18 Outcomes