How Bears can clinch their first playoff berth in six years in Week 16

The Chicago Bears have been one of the NFL's best stories this season. Ben Johnson has come in and made this team one of the best in the NFL, and at 10-4, they have a chance to punch their ticket to the playoffs.

Caleb Williams and the Bears are in great shape to make the playoffs, and can officially make the playoffs for the first time in six years in Week 16

As Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared, the Bears' playoff scenarios to clinch in Week 16 are clear. There are two scenarios for the Bears to make the playoffs, and they both require Ben Johnson's former team falling short to clinch.

How Bears can clinch playoff berth in Week 16 after six-year drought

The path for the Bears is simple. While a loss would put the playoff hopes on hold for at least a week, a tie or a win would open the door for Chicago.

If the Bears win, they will need the Detroit Lions to lose or tie their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. If Chicago ties, then a Lions loss would still punch Chicago's ticket to the playoffs.

But it won't be an easy Week 16 matchup for Chicago with the Green Bay Packers coming to town. At least, that was the case before the result of the Packers' matchup in Week 15.

More: Bears' Ben Johnson reveals concerning Rome Odunze update

Green Bay saw star wide receiver Christian Watson go down with a shoulder injury, and he is likely to miss some time. Meanwhile, Micah Parsons is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL.

Rome Odunze is banged up for the Bears and is at risk of being shut down for a little while, but the Packers' losses are much more impactful for their chances every week.

Parsons is a major loss for the Packers, and the Bears will be spared from going up against one of the best players in the NFL during their Week 16 matchup as they try to clinch a playoff berth.

While the Bears can officially clinch a playoff berth this weekend, they cannot wrap up the NFC North just yet. But if the Bears win and the Lions lose, then Chicago would have their first playoff game since the 2020 season.

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