Bet the Bears to Make the Playoffs Right Now at +1200

Will the Bears make the playoffs? If you would ask a random NFL fan this question several weeks ago they may have laughed in your face. But oh what difference does a few weeks make. The Bears seem to be putting things together. The most important streak, and the only one that matters, is wins. They have strung together two wins in a row and three of the last four. There is an energy in the fan base which has been lacking all season. People are starting to believe. But, is it too late? Do the Bears have a realistic chance to make the playoffs?

Finally Playing Well

The Bears have won two games in a row. They beat the Vikings in Minnesota two weeks ago (12-10) and this week they upset the top-seeded Detroit Lions (28-13). The Bears have also won three out of the last four.

QB Justin Fields is finally playing up to his potential. He had been dealing with some injuries and those seem to have cleared now. The speed of the game is slowing down, as they say.

The Bears defense is also locked in. In the three wins mentioned above, they have allowed just 12.33 points per game. Most any team can win when they are only allowing 12 PPG.

Justin Fields was very good this past weekend against the Lions throwing for 223 yards and a TD. He also ran for 58 yards and another TD. The team rushed for 142 yards combined. When you put up rushing numbers like that it usually means you are doing something right.

Playoff Chances

The Bears are 5-8. They are four games back of the first place Lions. Either the Cowboys or the Eagles will eat up one of the three wild card spots, that is a certainty. But, the rest of the wild card race is still pretty much wide open. Every potential wild card team only has six wins, except for the Vikings who have 7. And the Vikings seem to be having a tough time figuring out their QB situation.

The Bears have four games left on their schedule. The Bears could very well win their last four games and be 9-8 at season’s end. Even if they drop one of those it is very possible they make the playoffs at 8-9.

According to online sportsbooks, the odds of the Bears making the playoffs is +1200 (12/1). This means if you put a dollar on them making it, then you would receive 12 dollars back if they did. By this measurement, the Bears are longshots to make it to the postseason.  It may be worth locking them in however because the Bears final schedule looks like this:

Matchups and projected spread as of 12/5/23

• Bears (+3) at Browns (8-5)
• Bears (-5.5) vs Cardinals (3-10)
• Bears (-3) vs Falcons (6-7)
• Bears (+3) at Packers (6-7)

Three of the four teams have losing records. If they win three of these last four games there is a good chance they make a wild card spot.

TE Cole KMet

As the old poker saying goes “You only need a chip and a chair”, meaning you just need to make it into the playoffs then you have a shot at winning the Super Bowl. Yes, I know, it all seems a bit lofty but strange things happen and the Bears are playing inspired football. With pieces like Fields, DJ Moore, D’Onta Foreman, Cole Kmet, Cairo Santos, as well as the newly stout defense, nothing is impossible.

It may all come down to that final game versus the Packers. It could very well be a win-and-you-are-in scenario for both teams by week 18. The NFL would love it if it were. A game that until just this week seemed like it would be a dud, is shaping up to be a potential ratings bonanza.

Strategy

Of course the old football cliché “take it one game at a time” applies here. If the Bears concentrate fully on each game and try as hard as they can to play mistake-free football, there is a very good chance they knock off at least three of the final four teams.

The Browns may be a tough game but how much faith do you have in Joe Flacco? He was sitting on his couch watching football from home until a few weeks ago. In his defense, he did throw for 3 TDs and 300+ yards last week vs the Jags. But the week before that he threw the game-sealing interception against the Rams. If the Bears defense can make him uncomfortable and regret his un-retirement then the offense will be in a position to win this game. If the Bears can put up 24+ points in this matchup then they will win.

Getting past the Browns is the number one concern for the Bears and if they do the rest of the season will fall into place. Even if they drop that game they are not mathematically eliminated. You can bet the Bears to make the playoffs right now +1200 at BetUS.com