With Packers’ loss, Bears win first NFC North title since 2018

SAN FRANCISCO — The Chicago Bears locked up the NFC North on Saturday night following Green Bay’s 41-24 loss to Baltimore. The Bears won their first division title since 2018 before meeting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night in a game that will help determine the top seed in the NFC.

Eight days after playing their previous game that ended in a 22-16 overtime win over Green Bay, the Bears clinched their playoff spot following the Lions’ loss to the Steelers in Week 16 and captured the NFC North crown. Ben Johnson is the second Bears head coach since the 1970 merger to win the division in his first full season with the team. Matt Nagy did it in 2018.

A year after finishing with a 5-12 record that saw former coach Matt Eberflus fired mid-season, the Bears enter Week 17 with 11 wins and atop their division. In 20 of the last 23 seasons (2003-2025), at least one team won its division the season after finishing last or tied for last place. The Bears will host a playoff game at Soldier Field in January, which has long been Johnson’s goal, especially after seeing how the crowd fed off the momentum shift at the end of Chicago’s Dec. 20 win over Green Bay.

“I felt that crowd and was so blown away by the impact they had [last] Saturday night, I think we all want to play a playoff game in front of them so they can have the same impact there, so that will be our goal,” Johnson said earlier this week. “We have to win this division or earn that right to play a playoff game at home. We have a chance to do it in the next matches. »

A 12th win Sunday would tie the Bears’ most in a season in the last 15 years and keep Chicago alive for the No. 1 seed. The Bears must beat the 49ers and Lions in Week 18 and have the Seahawks lose one of their remaining games against the Panthers or 49ers to earn first place in the conference and a first-round bye.

The Bears have six wins this season after trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, which is the most in a season by any team since 1970. Quarterback Caleb Williams’ late-game effort again gave the Bears their victory over the Packers when he found undrafted rookie wide receiver Jahdae Walker for a touchdown with 28 seconds left to tie the score at the end of regulation and threw a pass from 46 yards to DJ Moore to win the game in overtime.

“I take a little satisfaction and things like that and being able to help this team, help this organization, be a part of it getting to the playoffs.” » Williams said. “And my goal is not just to make the playoffs, my goal is to win and win big. And so I’m going to keep my head down, I’m going to continue to grow for the guys in this building, for the coaches and everything else, for this organization and for the city, to be able to be proud and happy, to be fans and supporters of the Chicago Bears.”