The Chicago Bears know their season isn't over yet. Not until they've been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Until then, there's still a chance. That said, several in the organization are undoubtedly wishing things had gone just a little bit different a month or two ago. They wish they could've finished stronger against the Raiders in London or against the Chargers. Games they had won but let slip away. Just winning one of those games would've put them in a far better spot with three to play.
This is why every game matters in an NFL season. By not taking care of their own business, the Bears have left their fate in the hands of other teams. Never an advisable course of action considering said teams have their own agendas. This is why after working so hard to improve the playoff odds with a win over Dallas on Thursday Night Football, Chicago was undoubtedly disappointed by the results of Sunday's games.
The two teams the Bears needed to lose in order to open the path to a wild card berth were the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, neither was accommodating on this day. The Vikings took care of business against a bad Detroit Lions team while the Rams took down the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks at home.
Chicago Bears can only focus on what they control now
Suffice to say, the odds have narrowed. The Bears sit at a 3% chance of reaching the postseason. The only true way they can improve them is by continuing to win. Only by sweeping their final three games do they offer themselves even a reasonable chance of getting in. Even that is a tall order with Green Bay, Kansas City, and Minnesota being their remaining opponents. All three of those teams are currently slated to make the playoffs.
Don't expect Matt Nagy to let his team focus on that. They're centered on going 1-0 this coming week against the Packers. What happens beyond that is of no concern to them. This team is just interested in winning the next game. None of this talk of playoff fortunes matters if the Bears can't take care of their own business. It's been that way all year long. It is just sad that it may have taken too much time for them to realize it.
