Chicago Bears Become First To Clinch Division in NFL

Congratulations to the Chicago Bears and Bears fans everywhere.

The Bears clinched the NFC North with their 40-14 dismantling of the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football.  It was a crazy night that saw a game at a frozen field away from the Metrodome, due to a blizzard collapsing its roof, Devin Hester at long last breaking the NFL record for return touchdowns, and the Bears going into the game knowing that a win brought the divisional crown and a playoff spot.

Kudos to the Green Bay Packers, by the way.  They played New England tougher than the Bears did, 31-27.  The Patriots seem to be able to drop 30-plus points on any defense, but the Pack showed that their defensive effort and third string quarterback could almost keep pace.  It came down to New England's plus-1 takeaway differential.  This is the game offensive coordinators will be studying for the playoffs. 

Chicago sits as the lone NFL divisional winner—even the Patriots haven't wrapped it up—and in the No. 2 seed in the NFC.  A first-round bye is guaranteed if the Bears win their next two games over the Jets and Packers.  The Bears can lose the No. 2 seed to either Philadelphia or the New York Giants should they lose one or both of their last two games.  

The current NFC playoff standings are:

1.  Atlanta 12-2
2.  Chicago 10-4
3.  Philadelphia 10-4
4.  St. Louis 6-8
5.  New Orleans 10-4
6.  New York 9-5
7.  Green Bay 8-6
8.  Tampa Bay 8-6

The Bears own the No. 2 seed over the Eagles due to the head-to-head tiebreaker, and will keep that if they win their last two games. 

The picture's a little more complicated for others in the NFC.

Atlanta wins the division and home field advantage throughout with one more win.  Philadelphia faces Minnesota and Dallas and needs the Bears to stumble against the Jets or Packers to avoid a likely wild card rematch against the Giants.  

The St. Louis Rams at 6-8 somehow own the No. 4 seed, and believe me, New Orleans is licking their chops as that's almost certainly whom they'll face.  

The New York Giants-Green Bay Packers game in Week 16 will most likely decide the final, number six spot in the NFC playoffs. 

If the Giants win, they're in.  If the Giants lose, it creates a tie with the Packers, and the Bucs if they win, and that's where things get messy. 

In Week 17, the Giants face Washington, the Packers get Chicago and Tampa Bay squares off with New Orleans. 

The Giants will be playing for a wild card, while Washington will only be a divisional spoiler.  The Packers will be playing for a wild card, and the Bears for a first-round bye, and Tampa Bay will be playing for a wild card while the Saints could be playing for anything from the divisional title to preserving their No. 5 seed and a date with the Rams.