This holiday season, all the Chicago Bears want are two gifts before the NFL regular season ends: the NFC North Division title and the number one seed in the NFC.
Both are well within reach as the Bears hold an 11-4 record and are in first place in the NFC North. All they need is a Green Bay Packers loss or the Bears getting a win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 to make the division title theirs. For the NFC's number one seed, they will need some help to make that happen.
So, who should Chicago Bears fans cheer for in Week 17 to make sure that happens? Here are the games to watch in Week 17 to make sure that happens:
Bears Fans' Rooting Guide for Week 17
Bonus: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
The Lions are zero threat to the Bears in the playoffs, but come on! Who wouldn't want to see Detroit get knocked out of the playoffs as a nice cherry on top of a great Christmas Day? It may be tough to cheer for the guys in purple, but it would be funny to see the Vikings with a backup quarterback knock the Lions out of the playoffs.
Cheer: Minnesota Vikings
Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers
This is the big one. The Ravens have some uncertainty with whether star quarterback Lamar Jackson will even play with the back injury, but Baltimore's playoff hopes are on life support and need a win over the Packers to do that. The NFC North title is on the line, so the Bears would love to see Baltimore pull this one off so Chicago can cheer for a division crown one day early.
Cheer: Baltimore Ravens
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers
Carolina has been the most giving franchise that Chicago has ever seen from the DJ Moore trade that helped the Bears land Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze to the Panthers beating the Los Angeles Rams a few weeks ago. Maybe just one more win from the Panthers would really solidify the Bears fans' need to buy Bryce Young jerseys for New Year's, since Seattle has the number one seed in the NFC.
Cheer: Carolina Panthers
Philadelphia Eagles at Buffalo Bills
As long as the Bears stay one game ahead or tie with the Eagles, Philadelphia can't get ahead of them for the number two seed. With the Washington Commanders next week for the Eagles, this might be the best shot for Philly to lose a game. Bears fans are Josh Allen fans for one day to hold on to at least the number two seed in the NFC playoffs.
Cheer: Buffalo Bills
Read more: Bears face holiday woes after first Week 17 injury report was released
Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons
The Rams still have a shot at getting the number one seed, so it's all Atlanta in this game. Former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has hurt the Bears' fan base for years, so it would be fitting for them to do Chicago a solid and help out just this one time.
Cheer: Atlanta Falcons