Latest Bears 2025 playoff scenarios after Seahawks’ dramatic Week 16 win

The Chicago Bears enter Week 16’s clash against the Green Bay Packers with as much on the line as Bears fans could’ve hoped for at the start of the 2025 season.

At 10-4, a win would give the Bears a stranglehold on first place in the NFC North over the 9-4-1 Packers. It would also set up a fun season-ending throwdown against the Detroit Lions in Week 18.

Even if the Bears win, Bears Nation won’t know if Chicago clinched a playoff spot until the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions game. A Lions loss means the Bears are in.

The Seattle Seahawks’ incredible win over the Los Angeles Rams upended the Bears’ quest for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, at least for this week, even with a victory over Green Bay. Here are the current NFC playoff seeds as the full slate of Week 16’s games approaches:

MORE: How to watch, stream, and listen to Bears vs. Packers Week 16 rematch

Division leaders

1. Seahawks 12-3

2. BEARS 10-4

3. Eagles 9-5

4. Buccaneers 7-7

Wild cards

5. Rams 11-4

6. 49ers 10-4

7. Packers 9-4-1

Chicago Bears team writer Larry Mayer did a great job breaking down the scenarios for how the Bears can win the NFC North if they upend the Packers on Saturday night:

• They win one of their final two games at San Francisco (10-4) or at home against Detroit

OR

• The Packers lose one of their final two games versus Baltimore (7-7) or at Minnesota (6-8) and the Lions drop one of their next two games against Pittsburgh or at Minnesota

Even If the Bears lose Saturday night, they can still capture the NFC North title if:

• They win their final two games and Green Bay loses one of its final two remaining contests

OR

• They split their last two games, the Packers drop their final two matchups, and the Lions lose one of their next two contests

For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the Chicago Bears control their own destiny. It’s every team’s goal at this time of year, and, shockingly, Ben Johnson has gotten this team to this place in just his first year on the job.