The Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers clinched a spot in the NFC playoffs on Sunday following the Detroit Lions' 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It marks the first time the Bears will see postseason play since their 2020 campaign and represents a stellar turnaround in the first year of the Ben Johnson era.
Thanks in part to quarterback Caleb Williams's development and penchant for late-game heroics, Johnson has delivered a turnaround in Chicago more rapid than even the most foolhardy optimists might have predicted.
Following an 0-2 start, Johnson's Bears have won 10 of their last 12, many in dramatic fashion.
The latest such feat came against the Packers, who held a 10-point lead as Cairo Santos was lining up for a field goal attempt with the clock ticking down to the two-minute warning. A successful onside kick and a heroic touchdown drive later, Chicago had forced an improbable overtime from which it emerged victorious on a 46-yard dagger by Williams to DJ Moore for a 22-16 win.
That victory was the Bears' sixth comeback win this season after trailing with two minutes or less left in regulation, the most by any team since at least 1983, per NFL Research.
For San Francisco, which plays the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night to conclude Week 16, this is a return to the playoffs after a one-season hiatus.
The 49ers have lost standout defenders Nick Bosa and Fred Warner for the season, along with rookie first-rounder Mykel Williams, while quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall have each missed significant time. They’ve also been without Brandon Aiyuk, who was recently placed on the reserved/left squad list.
While the injury bug continues to bite the 49ers in the backside, they’ve trudged forward.
Buoyed by dual-threat running back Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers have persevered and are headed to the playoffs for the fifth time in the last seven seasons.
Currently, the 49ers sit in third place in the NFC West, but still have a shot to win the division and potentially claim the NFC’s top seed.