The Chicago Bears enter the Week 15 slate with a matchup against the Cleveland Browns on tap. While Cleveland is a very beatable team, the Bears cannot get cute.
Despite a 9-4 record, the Bears are far from guaranteed to earn a playoff spot. Ari Bhanpuri of NFL.com notes the Bears have a 65% chance of making the playoffs entering Week 15, but things could drastically change based on the outcome this weekend.
Bhanpuri shared the Bears’ playoff percentages if they win or lose against the Browns in Week 15. While a loss might be far-fetched, against Myles Garrett and a stout Browns defense, Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson are at risk of a 25% playoff swing this week.
Bears face a 25% playoff swing in Week 15 vs. Browns
Bhanpuri has the Bears at a 65% chance of making the playoffs entering Week 15, and it could rise to 72% with a win over the Browns.
However, a loss would be a 25% difference, with the Bears’ playoff percentage at just a 47% if they cannot beat the lowly Browns.
They entered the Week 14 slate atop the NFC as the number one seed, but after a loss to the Green Bay Packers, they dropped to the seventh seed in the conference.
But, with four games left, one of which against the Packers and another in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions, the Bears still control their own destiny when it comes to making the playoffs.
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Even with a loss this week to the Browns, the Bears would still have a chance of making the playoffs. But it would dramatically drop their odds to below 50%.
Bhanpuri also predicts the Bears to have a 23% chance of winning the NFC North, which could come to fruition if they can beat the Packers in Week 16, and tie the Packers’ win total from the three other weeks left this season.
But, just like how they sat atop the mountain after Week 14, things can drastically change for the Bears as the season moves along.
Chicago is far from a lock to make the playoffs despite a 9-4 record, as things could quickly unravel for Chicago, beginning this weekend against the Browns.
