The Green Bay Packers have lost their Week 15 game to the Denver Broncos and that is huge news for the Chicago Bears' playoff positioning.
With the Packers' loss and Chicago's win over the Cleveland Browns, the Bears move into first place in the NFC North going into Week 16.
Chicago also moves up to the No. 2 spot in the conference and the Bears trail the Los Angeles Rams by just one game for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
As for the Packers, they fall to second place in the NFC North and are now sittingi n the No. 7 spot in the conference, clinging to the final wild-card spot.
NFC North standings
1. Chicago Bears (10-4)
2. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)
3. Detroit Lions (8-6)
4. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
While the Bears are in first place for now, they must win the Week 16 game over the Packers or else the two teams will switch spots once again.
Tie-breakers won't be a factor because of the Packers' tie. Chicago must win one more game than Green Bay to secure the division.
The Lions lost their Week 15 game to the Rams, so Chicago created more space between itself and Detroit this week.
NFC playoff picture
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Los Angeles Rams | 11-3 |
| 2 | Chicago Bears | 10-4 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Eagles | 9-5 |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7-7 |
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks | 11-3 |
| 6 | San Francisco 49ers | 10-4 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 9-4-1 |
| 8 | Detroit Lions | 8-6 |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers | 7-7 |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | 6-6-1 |
| 11 | Minnesota Vikings | 5-8 |
| 12 | Atlanta Falcons | 5-9 |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints | 4-10 |
| 14 | Washington Commanders | 4-10 |
| 15 | Arizona Cardinals | 3-11 |
| 16 | New York Giants | 2-12 |
As previously stated, the Bears jump all the way to the No. 2 spot and are within striking distance of the No. 1 seed in the conference, which would afford them home-field advantage in the playoffs.
But if the Bears lose to the Packers next week, they would fall to the No. 7 spot where Green Bay is now. The good news is, the Bears can't fall any lower, so Chicago would still be in a playoff spot if they lose to Green Bay next week.
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