Bears will face 1 of these 3 opponents in wild card playoffs

The Chicago Bears have secured their first postseason berth since 2020, where they've also won the NFC North for the first time in seven years. That guarantees them at least one home playoff game, and there's still plenty on the line for the Bears heading into their Week 18 game against the Detroit Lions.

The Bears will be no worse than the No. 3 seed in the NFC, but they currently control their own destiny when it comes to the No. 2 seed. If Chicago were to lock up the second seed, it would guarantee them a second home playoff game, assuming they win in the wild-card round. But to do that, they're going to need to take care of business against the Lions or the Philadelphia Eagles to lose to the Washington Commanders.

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Following the Los Angeles Rams' Monday Night Football loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Bears possible wild-card opponent pool has been narrowed to just three teams heading into Week 18. Here's a look at each:

Green Bay Packers

If the Bears beat the Lions or the Eagles lose to the Commanders, Chicago will lock down the No. 2 and welcome the Green Bay Packers back to Soldier Field for a third meeting between the two division rivals. The Packers are banged up and without some of their key playmakers, including most notably Micah Parsons, and they're probably the weakest (if there is such a thing) opponent on this list.

Los Angeles Rams

If the Bears lose to the Lions and the Eagles beat the Commanders, Chicago will fall to the No. 3 seed and face one of the NFC West teams still jockeying for playoff positioning. The Rams lost a rough one to the Falcons on Monday night, which has taken the Seahawks out of opponent contention for the wild-card round. If the 49ers beat the Seahawks in Week 18, the Bears will host the Rams in the first round.

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San Francisco 49ers

The Bears are coming off a hard-fought shootout loss against the 49ers, where they fell just short, and a rematch isn't completely out of the question. This time, in Chicago. If the Bears are the No. 3 seed (which would mean they lose and the Eagles win), the Seahawks would have to beat the 49ers and the Rams would have to beat the Cardinals for Chicago to host San Francisco in the wild-card round. After what Brock Purdy just did to this Bears defense, that wouldn't be ideal. Yet, it would be at Soldier Field this time.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL playoffs: Bears will face 1 of 3 opponents in wild card round