ESPN’s models still don’t believe in the Chicago Bears

What do the 8-3 Chicago Bears have to do to earn some respect around here?

Despite them winning eight of their last nine games and leading the NFC North, ESPN’s playoff prediction models still aren’t bullish on the Bears.

With six games left to go, including Friday’s contest with the Eagles, the Worldwide Leader’s latest crystal ball gives Chicago only a 62% chance to make the playoffs and just a 24% probability to win the division. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) have an 80% chance right now to make the playoffs (45% to win division), and the Detroit Lions (7-4) aren’t far behind (72% to make playoffs, 32% to win division).

On one hand, one can understand to a degree. The Bears have the toughest schedule of the three to close out the season: Philadelphia Eagles (8-3), Green Bay Packers (7-3-1), Cleveland Browns (3-8), Packers again, San Francisco 49ers (8-4), and Detroit Lions (7-4). That said, the Packers still have to face the Denver Broncos (9-2) and surging Ravens (6-5), whose record belies their talent, while Detroit must still play the 9-2 Los Angeles Rams and a Minnesota Vikings team that just beat them earlier this month. So neither team has a complete cakewalk through the end of the season.

But the bottom line is that Chicago’s early strength of schedule seems to be working against them when it comes to predictions, which is why this upcoming game in Philadelphia is such a big deal. If the Bears beat the Eagles, their probability of making the playoffs jumps from about 62% to 82%. Knocking off the defending champions would definitely force a system (and narrative) recalibration about this team, proving they can beat anyone on the schedule from here on out.

If the Bears lose, their playoff probability would drop to about 55%, which would put tremendous pressure on them going to Lambeau Field on December 7.

Simply put: there’s no time like the present for the Bears to prove to everyone that they’re for real. No one will doubt any longer it if Chicago leaves Philly with a win on Friday.