The Chicago Bears have pulled off something big. They are now the NFC North champions for the first time in five years. This happened because the Green Bay Packers lost to the Baltimore Ravens. The Bears will now play their first home playoff game since 2019. That was the year of the infamous "double-doink" loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

This season has been a rollercoaster for the Bears. They started off poorly, losing their first two games. They blew a lead against the Minnesota Vikings and then got crushed by the Detroit Lions, giving up 52 points. But things turned around quickly. The Bears became known for their late-game heroics, winning three games in walk-off fashion and six games when trailing in the fourth quarter.

Coach Ben Johnson has been a key part of this turnaround. He brought intensity and a new energy to the team. Quarterback Caleb Williams has been clutch in the fourth quarter. The defense, led by Dennis Allen, leads the NFL in takeaways. And the offensive line has been a powerhouse, leading the league's second-best rushing attack.

The Bears have already secured a playoff spot, their first since 2020. They clinched it after a thrilling win over the Packers and a Lions loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Johnson had set goals for the team, and they are ticking them off one by one. The next challenge is to win the division and secure a home playoff game.

There is still a chance for the Bears to get the top seed in the NFC. They need to beat the San Francisco 49ers and the Lions in the final week, and hope the Seattle Seahawks lose. If they win the division, they could face the Packers in the wild-card round for the third time in six weeks. If they lose to the Lions, they will be the first division champion with only two division wins since the 2010 Kansas City Chiefs.

General manager Ryan Poles set a goal when he was hired: to "take the North. " After three consecutive last-place finishes, that goal seemed like a joke. But with Johnson leading the way, the Bears have finally achieved it.

Chicago Bears: A Comeback Story in the NFC North

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