Are you ready for Round III?
All signs have pointed to a Packers-Bears playoff rematch for several weeks, and it now looks more likely than ever. Green Bay is locked into the No. 7 seed, setting up a road game against the No. 2 seed in the NFC Wild Card Round. Only Chicago and Philadelphia can take that spot.
A Bears victory over the struggling Lions will cement their spot. If they lose, the Eagles could take over the No. 2 seed by defeating the Commanders. However, based on the differing approaches for both teams in Week 18, it seems safe to lock in the Bears as the Packers' first-round opponents.
Eagles will rest starters in Week 18, increasing the likelihood of Packers-Bears in the playoffs
According to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles will sit their starters in Week 18. They could still beat a struggling Commanders team down to its third-string quarterback, but the approach shows where the Eagles stand. They are content where they're at, fully understanding it's out of their hands whether they can improve to the No. 2 seed.
Chicago, meanwhile, is seemingly taking a different approach, as signs point to the Bears playing their starters in Week 18 to secure the better seed.
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Detroit has lost three in a row, including a brutal 23-10 loss to a Vikings team that recorded three passing yards.
The chances of the Lions and Eagles winning this week don't seem high. Impossible? No. Likely? Definitely not.
And it's fitting, honestly. The Packers have some unfinished business at Soldier Field. They dominated for 58 minutes without Jordan Love just two weeks ago. It took the meltdown of all meltdowns to throw away that game. Get Love healthy (and Zach Tom and Evan Williams), and let's go again.
Unlike in the previous two contests, the Packers will likely enter as underdogs. But that's perfectly fine with us.
Mark your calendars. The Packers and Bears appear to be on a playoff collision course.