Game of the week
Chicago Bears (11-4) Vs. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
The find for first place in the NFC was the decorative iced penguin on Week 17's colossal Christmas cake, which started with Detroit is on fire on the big day.then snowballs with a playoff preview between the Texans and Chargers on Saturday and concludes with Bears vs. 49ers (not counting Monday, Rams vs. Falcons).
In the race for the sacred bye week, Chicago and San Francisco are one game behind Seattle at 12-3, meaning the underdog's hopes will be dashed at the final whistle. If the 49ers win, they can still take first place by beating the Seahawks in Week 18 since they've already held the tiebreaker. If the Bears win, they'll have to beat the Lions next week and hope the Seahawks lose at least once to close out the season. It goes down to the wire.
What the Bears need to do to win
The Bears defense is having an outstanding year turning the ball over. Hawk brothers Kevin Byard and Nahshon Wright demonstrate an uncanny ability to read a quarterback's mind, and as such, Chicago leads the league in interceptions (21) and total turnovers (31).
They need to keep giving gifts to cut the legs off the San Francisco attack and quietly develop into a powerful force. The 49ers' success was largely based on the return of Brock Purdy at quarterback, starting a five-game winning streak in which they averaged 34.2 points per game. Backup Mac Jones also had success, although not as much, with the 49ers scoring 22.8 points per game and posting a 5–3 record under his tutelage.
The main difference is Purdy's unwavering aggression when pushing the ball down the field. These faster-paced, sharper tendencies can lead to interceptions, as Carolina discovered in hitting Purdy three times in November in a 20-9 loss. What the Bears have that the Panthers don't is an offense that can outshine San Francisco if they can pull off a similar trick. Chicago needs to be conservative, watch out for the big play and wait patiently for Purdy's gift.
What the 49ers need to do to win.
San Francisco needs to slow down Chicago's impressive two-man attack. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, who have 1,728 yards between them, form the best tandem in the league. NFL unless you count the unorthodox combination of James Cook and guard Josh Allen on Buffalo's roster.
Swift and Monangai's old-fashioned power running controls the movement and keeps the defense honest as they effectively absorb distance from the first whistle to the last.
The problem for the 49ers is that they have faced a lot of weak rushing attacks and have struggled against teams that run the ball well, like the Rams. Los Angeles rushed for 126 yards and two scores in a 42-26 rout of San Francisco in November. The solution could be the return of linebacker Tatum Bethune and linebacker Sam Oquayinonu from injury. Both are strong defenders; both must be prepared to go toe-to-toe with a tough offensive line and an even tougher backfield pairing. The Bears will control the outcome if Swift and Monangai rebel.
Rising: Pittsburgh Steelers
“I think there's a mentality that you pay the ticket and say whatever you want. I think there has to be some kind of code of conduct. Obviously, it was intentional, and I think there was some celebration on his part after that,” mused quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The depth of thought is still ahead of the hand, which means no changes.
What has changed in Pittsburgh is that they have found a reason they can come together and unite them as one. Rogers reported that the internal story is that DK Metcalf was treated unfairly, despite the fact that the receiver hitting someone very openly he could barely reach the podium. This is hardly a reflexive action to an evil barb. But the bad man with blue hair forced him to do it. Pittsburgh has the advantage again.
Said fan and the rest of NFL kingdom who want the black and gold to fail will pay – even the home bodies chanting that Mike Tomlin will be fired in November. The edge that had been missing on defense during early-season mistakes has returned, leading to an increase in offensive output for what feels like the first time in forever. Metcalf will make a triumphant return to save the Steelers' weekend if they beat the Browns on Sunday or the Ravens next week for their first playoff win in what seems like forever. It's written.
Fall: Green Bay Packers
The wheels didn't fall off completely. The Packers clinched the playoffs after being eliminated by the Lions on Christmas Day. The job is done. The window to win the NFC North is also still slightly open if the Bears lose and the Packers win.
But with two straight losses, Micah Parsons ruled out for the season and quarterback Jordan Love's availability against Baltimore in question, the omens don't quite scream of the Super Bowl contenders they were two weeks ago. The offense gained momentum, anchored by the deep threat of Christian Watson, and Green Bay led the AFC-leading Broncos 23-14 early in the third quarter at Mile High.
Defeat followed from a position of strength, as happened again at Soldatskaya Polyana last week. Caleb Williams, an old enemy, used the cruelest of the last daggers to undo what could have been a grim victory against all odds. A missed chance to hear the rallying cry of the playoffs: “Nobody believes in us.” Instead, perhaps the Packers themselves have lost faith, too.
Race for pick #1
And then there were two of them. A pair of Fall Guys 2 through 13 share their respective nine-game slides. The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants are in pole position for the top pick after Cam Ward's Tennessee Titans swooped on the fallen Kansas City Chiefs.
And who might these bottom dwellers encounter this week? Each other. Yes, the battered, smashed and shattered cup takes center stage with a crunch that will likely finally settle the battle. Two speculators enter; the person leaves unsure whether to laugh or cry. The other lies crippled on the canvas and smiles through blackened teeth. Next year the pain might be worth it.
If the season ended today
AFK 1) Denver 13-3; 2) New England 12-3; 3) Jacksonville 11-4; 4) Pittsburgh 9-6; 5) Los Angeles Chargers 11-4; 6) Buffalo 11-4; 7) Houston 10-5. Bubble: Indianapolis 8-6; Baltimore 7-8
NFC 1) Seattle 12-3; 2) Chicago 11-4; 3) Philadelphia 10-5; 4) Carolina 8-7; 5) San Francisco 11-4; 6) LA Rams 11-4; 7) Green Bay 9-5-1. Bubble: Tampa Bay 7-8
