Chicago Bears Got Even More Draft Help On Sunday

The Chicago Bears' weekend off started with good fortune when Baker Mayfield engineered a remarkable comeback over Las Vegas. His win for the Los Angeles Rams took them out of consideration for the #2 overall pick. It eased the pressure on the Bears in their quest to tank. Obviously, the team isn't doing it intentionally, but you get the point. Everybody has their eyes on the top of the 2023 draft. Chicago is eliminated from playoff contention, so this has become their defacto playoff chase.

Four games remain in the season. The Bears have one of the worst defenses in the league. However, they also have an emerging young quarterback in Justin Fields. So it's not entirely wise to expect four losses. This team has played almost every game close in 2022. It is possible they steal at least one of those games, which could drastically impact their draft aspirations. Still, there was more good news on Sunday, if not great. Here are some of the latest developments.

The Chicago Bears got a little more good news this week.

Detroit Lions beat Minnesota Vikings 34-23

Watching the Vikings lose is never a bad thing. What makes this development so important from the Bears' perspective is it lessens the possibility Minnesota will choose to rest their starters in the Week 18 finale at Soldier Fields. If Chicago wants to complete the tank, it will be easier if they're facing the Vikings' best players. Now they're suddenly fighting to maintain control of the #2 seed in the playoffs at 10-3, with the surging 8-4 49ers breathing down their necks. Every game will matter for them down the stretch.

Jacksonville Jaguars beat Tennessee Titans 36-22

When Sunday began, there were six teams in the NFL with only four wins, one more than the Chicago Bears. That number has dropped to four teams. One of them was the Jaguars, as they continue to make strides with their own young quarterback. There is a strong likelihood they'll get at least another win before the season ends too. So they are no longer a serious threat.

Carolina Panthers beat Seattle Seahawks 30-24

This was the most significant development. A few weeks ago, Carolina looked like a favorite for the #1 overall pick. Now they're 5-8 and chasing the division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Beating the Seahawks puts them out of the conversation for a top five pick. That leaves five teams as direct threats to what the Bears want. The biggest is the Denver Broncos. At 3-10, their identical record and weaker schedule have given the Seahawks control of the #2 pick.

Then there are the Rams, Saints, Cardinals, and Colts, all with four wins each. A single win for Chicago could see them fall to the bottom of the top 10 due to their strong schedule. The margin for error is razor-thin. It's a safe assumption they will lose their next two games against Philadelphia and Buffalo. The decisive stretch will be Weeks 17 and 18 against Detroit and Minnesota. If they lose both, it guarantees them a top three pick.