Here's How the Bears Benefit From the Approved NFL Playoff Expansion
By Will Coleman
Over the last decade or so, it would be fair to consider the Chicago Bears as foreigners with regards to the NFL playoffs. Since making it to Super Bowl XLI against the Colts in the 2006 season, the Bears have made the postseason just twice – 2010 and 2018.
Given a crowded NFC and a truly competitve division that includes the Packers and Vikings, it wasn't going to be an easy feat for the Bears to make it back to the postseason this year. But after league owners agreed to expand the playoff field by two teams on Tuesday, it's safe to say that Chicago fans have to feel a lot better about their chances in 2020.
.@NFL clubs approve the expansion of the postseason.
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 31, 2020
14 teams will now qualify for the playoffs beginning with the 2020 season. More info: https://t.co/JTC1WThyMd pic.twitter.com/zoQFQeJWAI
Starting next season, each conference will have an extra Wild Card spot, and byes will only be awarded to the No. 1 seeds. The race for the final few playoff berths at the end of each season is going to be a lot more interesting than before, and the Bears figure to be key benficiaries of the change.
Chicago's had its fair share of losing seasons finishing near the cellar of the NFC North, but the Bears have also had winning seasons cut short by the now-defunct 12-team field. In 2012, Chicago missed the postseason despite going 10-6. With this new format in place, those days are over.
Playoffs? Playoffs?!
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 31, 2020
League owners vote to expand the NFL playoffs from 12 to 14 teams, beginning with the 2020 season.
The Bears finished 8-8 last year to miss the playoffs for their eighth time in nine seasons. It's an understatement to say Chicago has struggled to crack the playoff ranks consistently, which is why this extra Wild Card spot is huge for them moving forward.