Bears clinch playoff spot, end postseason drought

For the first time since 2020, the Chicago Bears are headed to the playoffs.

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the Bears have clinched their spot in the postseason:

It’s a huge accomplishment for the Bears, especially in Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach. Despite a tough division full of playoff contenders, Chicago has put together an impressive campaign that won’t stop with Week 18.

There’s still plenty for the Bears to play for over the final two weeks of the regular season, too. Not only do they still have the inside track to win the NFC North after Saturday night’s dramatic win over the Green Bay Packers, but there’s still a chance they could land the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That would give them a first-round bye and an automatic spot in the divisional round.

Caleb Williams and the offense have been explosive and exciting all year long, and the defense has overcome a constant run of injuries thanks to their ability to create turnovers. All of that has added up to Chicago’s first trip to the postseason in five years.

We’re just getting started, Bears fans. This is an important first step, but the sky’s the limit for this team.