The Panthers Didn’t Help … But the Bears Still Have a Path to the No. 1 Seed ...Middle East

The Panthers didn’t do the Bears any favors this afternoon. Carolina fell to Seattle, eliminating the cleanest path for Chicago to take control of the NFC’s top seed on Sunday night. But while the door didn’t swing open, it’s not closed, either — the Bears still very much have a route to the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Here’s where things stand:

The Bears (11-4) are guaranteed to finish as either the 1, 2, or 3 seed in the NFC. They entered the day sitting at No. 2 behind the Seahawks (12-3), and in an alternate timeline — the one that required a Seattle loss in Carolina — Chicago could’ve claimed the top spot tonight with a win over the 49ers.

Seattle didn’t cooperate.

So here’s the new math:

The Bears’ Updated Path to the No. 1 Seed

To climb to the NFC’s top spot, the Bears must:

Beat the 49ers tonight on Sunday Night Football Beat the Lions in Week 18 Have the 49ers beat the Seahawks in Week 18

If that three-part puzzle comes together, the Bears and Seahawks would finish 13-4, and Chicago would win the tiebreaker thanks to a superior conference winning percentage. It’s not the simple route they hoped for, but it’s still attainable.

Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

What Can Be Clinched Tonight

Even without Seattle’s loss, Chicago can still lock up a top-two seed tonight with help.

If the Bears beat San Francisco AND the Eagles lose to the Bills in the late window, Chicago is guaranteed no worse than the No. 2 seed. And if that happens, we already know what’s coming:

A wild card weekend rubber match at Soldier Field versus the Green Bay Packers, who are locked into the No. 7 seed regardless of how the final week shakes out.

So yes, the Panthers whiffed on their assignment.

But the Bears’ goals are all still on the table. Beat San Francisco. Set the stage for Detroit. And keep the pressure on Seattle.

Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Hence then, the article about the panthers didn t help but the bears still have a path to the no 1 seed was published today ( Sunday 28/12/2025 - 11:57 PM ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The Panthers Didn’t Help … But the Bears Still Have a Path to the No. 1 Seed )

Also on site :

• Taking the North, DVOA Stock Watch, DJ the Trend Setter, Important Games Before SNF, and Other Bears Bullets
• The Cubs Bullpen Build Out Continues, Payroll and Roster Construction, Rizzo Hopes, and Other Cubs Bullets
• EFL manager sacked just one year into mammoth five-and-a-half-year contract