Ten wins mean nothing to Ben Johnson. The NFC playoff picture is a chaotic scramble, and Chicago's postseason fate hangs precariously.
The Chicago Bears improved to 10-4 on Sunday with a 31-3 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Shedeur Sanders was held to 177 passing yards, three interceptions and 30.3 passer rating.
Winning out would be ideal for the Bears, especially with how close the NFC playoff race is. Head coach Ben Johnson noted the importance of Sunday's win but emphasized that 10 wins are not enough to make the playoffs.
"Not really," Johnson said. "We're just, we're onto the next one, you know. 10's great but it's not enough."
The Los Angeles Rams lead the NFC playoff standings at 10-3. While it may appear that a Rams' loss would help the Bears, Chicago actually really needs Los Angeles to beat the Detroit Lions.
The Lions came into the weekend at 8-5 and just outside the playoff standings.
The real game to watch is between the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos. A Green Bay loss would make next week's game even more critical, putting Chicago back in first place in the NFC North.
At the same time, a win would clinch a playoff berth for the Broncos.
The Bears had the No. 7 seed before Sunday's win.
The division leaders are the Green Bay Packers (9-3-1), the Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) and the Carolina Panthers (7-6). The remaining Wild Card spots belong to the Seattle Seahawks (10-3) and San Francisco 49ers (9-4).
The Rams are in danger of falling out of the top four with a loss to the Detroit Lions. If San Francisco beats the Tennessee Titans and the Seahawks lose to the Indianapolis Colts, followed by a Broncos' win over the Packers, the 49ers will take the No. 1 seed.
However, the Packers can claim the top seed with a win over Broncos and a Rams' loss.
The Bears play the Packers, 49ers, and Lions in their last three games. With how close the playoff race is in the NFC, the Bears could miss the playoffs even if they finish with 11 or 12 wins.
Green Bay got the better of Chicago in Week 14, beating the Bears 28-21. Chicago got down to the Green Bay 14-yard line on a 4th-and-1, but Caleb Williams threw an interception to end the game effectively.
We could have a photo finish in the NFC when it comes to the playoff fates of many teams.
The Bears secured their first winning season since 2018 with the 24-15 win over the Eagles, but that doesn't guarantee them a playoff spot. Winning out is the best thing that Chicago could do for itself down the stretch, as the regular season starts to come to a close.
This time around, the Bears face the Packers at Soldier Field. Kickoff will be at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC next Saturday.