The Green Bay Packers can lock up the No. 6 seed with a win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, combined with a Washington loss against Dallas, which could motivate the Packers to play their starters. Green Bay is a double-digit favorite over a Chicago team entering on a 10-game losing streak.
How to watch Bears at Packers
A higher seed could be the difference between winning a playoff game or going home early. If the Packers fall to the No. 7 seed, they will face the Eagles, who are one of the best teams in the NFL and play in one of the league’s most hostile environments.
If the Packers can secure the No. 6 seed, they will travel to play the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These are much more favorable matchups because the Rams and Buccaneers are not as good as the Eagles and because Packers fans might have an easier time infiltrating SoFi Stadium or Raymond James Stadium.
Despite coming off a loss to Minnesota a week ago, Packers quarterback Jordan Love is still playing some of his best football of the season. Love has nine touchdowns to zero interceptions over his past six games.
The Bears’ only motivation here? Pride.
The pride of snapping a 10-game losing streak and finally beating a Packers team that has won 12 consecutive games against them and 16 of the past 17 games dating back to the start of the 2016 season.
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers odds
Expert picks for Bears vs. Packers
Read more about NFL Week 18
NFL Week 18 odds, schedule: Lions favored against Vikings for crucial tilt
Betting for (by) dummies: Do the Lions have enough on defense to stay with the Vikings?
NFL Week 18 playoff scenarios: Lions-Vikings joust for No. 1 seed; AFC North, NFC South up for grabs
(Photo by Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)