You may think this is schadenfreude, but...okay, fine, it’s schadenfreude. The Chicago Bears, who now stand at 5-7, are projected to have a 0.1% chance of reaching the postseason this year -- the lowest odds of any team that isn’t mathematically eliminated by this point. Here’s what has to happen:
Calculating The Bears’ Playoff Odds. No, Really.
↵1. The Bears have to win the rest of their games to finish at 9-7. They play the Packers Sunday, then face the Ravens, Vikings, and Lions to close out the season.
↵2. Both the 8-4 Packers and 8-4 Eagles, who are contending for a wild card spot, have to lose the rest of the games. It’s no good if the Bears tie them at 9-7, because both the Eagles (who have beaten them this season) and the Packers (who hold a superior conference record) would win a tiebreaker.
↵3. Given 2 happens, the Giants, who stand at 7-5, will beat the Eagles. Since the Giants have a better common-opponent record than the Bears, they’ll have to lose the remainder of their games to finish at an inferior 8-8.
↵4. Earth will have to avoid being hit by a massive, civilization-snuffing meteor. This is the easiest hurdle.
↵In short, 14 specific games have to fall in the Bears’ favor. If all these conditions fall into place, the NFL playoffs will be treated to Jay Cutler and his Debbie Downer-esque facial expression. Go get ‘em, Bears!
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