Bears' Rooting Guide for 2024 NFL Draft Implications of Week 15

The Chicago Bears are a few results away from securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Chicago cheered for the Carolina Panthers' futility all season long and that has paid off going into Week 15.

Carolina is two games below the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots in the win-loss column. The Bears need the Panthers to keep losing so that the pick acquired in last season's draft deal that brought the No. 1 pick to Carolina is confirmed at the top of the draft order before January.

The Bears currently sit at No. 6 with their own first-round selection. They dropped a spot after the Los Angeles Chargers' Thursday night loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

There is not much hope in sight for the Bears to jump the Patriots, Cardinals and Washington Commanders to get into the top four.

A Sunday loss to the Cleveland Browns would put the Bears back up to No. 5, but that may be the ceiling for that pick unless upsets happen across the NFL.

Falcons over Panthers

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 10: Desmond Ridder #9 of the Atlanta Falcons looks to throw during the first half of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Bears fans need to channel all of their draft rooting interest into the Falcons in Week 15.

An Atlanta win at Bank of America Stadium means the Panthers will have a difficult time pulling themselves out of the NFL basement.

A surprise Week 15 win would put a bit of fear into the Bears fan base that the Panthers have the potential to finish the season strong and could end up tied with the Cardinals and/or Patriots.

Atlanta needs the win as much as the Bears need the Panthers to lose. The Falcons dropped out of first place in the NFC South after Week 14 due to their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Atlanta could reclaim first place on Sunday since the Bucs visit the Green Bay Packers.

The Falcons can't take the game lightly, which is exactly what Bears fans want to hear as they get closer to celebrating the No. 1 overall pick officially becoming theirs.

Giants over Saints

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 11: Tommy DeVito #15 of the New York Giants scrambles and looks to pass during an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Bears have to be realistic about who they root for on the rest of the Week 15 schedule.

The Cardinals, Patriots and Commanders most likely are not beating the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams.

A surge into the top four might be off the Bears' radar right now, so the best rooting strategy is to hope the other five-win teams pick up a few more victories.

The New York Giants are riding all sorts of momentum behind Tommy DeVito at the moment and they have a winnable game in New Orleans on Sunday.

The Saints are an offensive mess riddled by poor quarterback play and injuries. Their inability to score touchdowns hurt them in recent weeks and could continue to be a liability against the Giants.

DeVito captured the nation by storm, but the Giants defense is the reason they have been so competitive over the last month.

The Giants allowed a single touchdown in the final three quarters on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers and limited the Patriots and Commanders to a combined 26 points.

A Giants win would trim the crowd of five-win teams, and it would also take a team with a potential quarterback need further away from the top five.

That could be beneficial to the Bears on the trade market if they choose to keep Justin Fields.

The Bears have the potential to trade away the top pick to the Giants, or other franchises in need of a refresh at quarterback, to collect more assets to build up their roster depth.

Titans over Texans

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 11: Will Levis #8 and Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans celebrate after a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 11, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The Bears would love to see the Tennessee Titans capitalize on their own Monday night momentum to pick up a Sunday victory.

The Titans, Giants and New York Jets are the other 5-8 teams in the NFL and all of them sit beneath the Bears in the draft order.

Chicago would love to see as many five-win teams win as possible so that there is some breathing room in the race for the top six. The Jets visit the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, so there is little hope they will win.

The Titans could take advantage of a Houston Texans team that proved it was susceptible to an upset in their Week 14 loss to the Jets.

Houston is dealing with a handful of offensive injuries at the moment, which could limit C.J. Stroud's production against the Titans defense.

A heavy dose of Derrick Henry and a few key throws from Will Levis could give the Titans their second straight win, which would be much appreciated from the Bears.