Chicago Bears Looking For Playoff Bye In Week 17, Los Angeles Rams In Driver's Seat For No.2 Seed

The Chicago Bears have something to play for in Week 17. With the NFC North championship in hand, the team is seeking a bye in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

The Los Angeles Rams have the No.2 seed with one game left on the regular-season schedule. L.A. and Chicago will enter the playoffs with the No.2 and No.3 seed in some order.

Neither team can earn home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The New Orleans Saints clinched the No.1 seed with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.

There’s only one scenario in which the Rams and Bears can swap seeds. The Rams need to lose and the Bears have to win.

Chicago will face a difficult task in the season finale. They're scheduled to go on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, who are desperate for a victory of their own. The Vikings are fighting to earn the final playoff berth in the NFC.

The Bears defeated the Vikings 25-20 at Soldier Field in Week 11. Chicago is 4-3 on the road and Minnesota is 5-2 at home.

Los Angeles will host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17. At 4-11, San Francisco is tied for the NFL’s second-worst record.

The Rams dominated the 49ers on the road in Week 7 with a 39-10 victory. San Francisco is winless on the road. Los Angeles is 6-1 at home.

L.A. suffered their first home loss in Week 15 when they were beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the Rams’ second straight defeat and their third loss in six games.

The Bears were responsible for starting the Rams’ short-lived losing streak. Chicago beat Los Angeles at home 15-6 in Week 14. It gave the Bears the tiebreaker over the Rams, keeping them alive for a playoff bye despite trailing L.A. by a game in the standings with one week remaining.

With an 11-4 record, Chicago has their most wins since the 2010 season when they last won the NFC North. Their only loss in the last eight games came in Week 13 when the team was forced to start backup quarterback Chase Daniel.

The Rams have won the NFC West for a second consecutive year. Los Angeles became the first team to clinch a division title in 2018.