The Bears will clinch their first NFC North title in eight years with a win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, which would be a remarkable achievement for a team that hasn’t even contended for its own division over the last few seasons.
But winning on Sunday would not only officially guarantee the Bears a spot in the playoffs. It would effectively eliminate Aaron Rodgers and the Packers from playoff contention — and, likely, a wild card round date with the Bears at Soldier Field next month.
The Bears this week downplayed the importance of delivering a knockout blow to the Packers’ wobbly playoff hopes.