NFC North Champions: Bears Clinch Division Title Before Heartbreaking Shootout Loss to 49ers
The Chicago Bears clinched the NFC North division championship Saturday night, completing a "worst-to-first" turnaround to secure their first division title since 2018.
The title was officially decided after the Green Bay Packers lost to the Baltimore Ravens, guaranteeing Chicago the top spot in the division with two games remaining in the regular season. The accomplishment marks a significant shift for a franchise that finished in last place in the NFC North for the past three consecutive seasons.
Under second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears have reached an 11-5 record. Williams, the 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick, has led an offense that moved from the bottom of the league in scoring last year to one of the most productive units in the NFC this season.
The celebration of the division title was followed by a highly contested "Sunday Night Football" matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. In a game that featured 11 touchdowns and 936 total yards, the Bears fell to the 49ers 42-38 at Levi’s Stadium.
The contest began with an immediate defensive score for Chicago, as linebacker T.J. Edwards returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play. The two teams traded leads throughout the night, with the game being tied at five different points. Chicago took a 38-35 lead late in the fourth quarter following a 29-yard field goal by Cairo Santos, but San Francisco regained the advantage on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to Jauan Jennings with 2:15 remaining.
Williams led a final 63-yard drive that reached the San Francisco 2-yard line with four seconds left. On the game's final play, Williams was flushed out of the pocket, and his pass intended for Jahdae Walker fell incomplete as time expired. Williams finished the game with a season-high 330 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Despite the loss, the division crown ensures Chicago will host at least one playoff game at Soldier Field. While the defeat ended the team's hopes for the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed, the Bears can still secure the No. 2 seed with a victory over the Detroit Lions or an Eagles loss to the Commanders in their regular-season finale.
