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The Chicago Bears lost to the Detroit Lions 19–16, but the story cut deeper than the final score. The Bears clinched the NFC North and now head to the NFL Playoffs as the No. 2 seed despite the setback. The Lions are eliminated from postseason contention, and the focus shifts fully to January football. Caleb Williams finished with 212 passing yards on 20-of-33 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. He kept the Bears competitive throughout the game and continued to show command of the offense.
The rarity of this division crown stands out immediately. The Bears finished only 2–4 in division play and still won the NFC North. That almost never happens. They join the 1971 San Francisco 49ers, the 1982 Green Bay Packers, and the 2010 Kansas City Chiefs as the only teams since the 1970 merger to win a division with a losing record in division games. That is select company. It underscores how strange and stubborn this season has been. It also shows how much the Bears controlled games outside the division, then survived just enough inside it to lift the banner.
The Bears enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak as they head into the NFL Playoffs. The context matters. They will host the Packers in the Wild Card Round. Green Bay arrives with a four-game losing streak. Two rivals. Two skids. One season on the line. The stakes feel heavy already. The Bears still earned the No. 2 seed but they also still need to prove that their best football is not already behind them.
Meanwhile, the loss to the Lions carried lessons. Chicago moved the ball. It did not finish enough drives. The defense bent late. Yet the crowd still roared at key stops. The team still showed edge. Caleb Williams remains central to everything they hope to do next. The larger question now hovers over everything. With history already made, how far can this Bears group push the moment when the lights get brightest in January?
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