It isn't as simple as you might think, but it's also not impossible for the Chicago Bears to secure their postseason berth in Week 16.
After a dominant performance over the Cleveland Browns, everybody knows what time it is. There is absolutely zero time (or interest) in celebrating a victory over the sad, Shedeur Sanders-led Browns.
No time, folks. No time.
It's Packers week again -- words we'll be using for the next several days because, well, that's the dead-serious and straightforward message. All that matters is beating Green Bay, period.
And, if the Bears do beat the Packers and get their revenge, then they're one step away from securing a playoff berth.
The Bears need help from an old nemesis in order to secure a playoff spot in Week 16
This might end up feeling like an alternate universe; living in some gross, twisted paradox if you will.
But let's walk through this. The Bears need to beat Green Bay at home in Week 16. That's the place where former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers continuously tormented the Bears for years. Now, the Bears can truly move into a new era by beating Green Bay with Jordan Love under center and, ultimately, secure a playoff spot if one more thing happens.
That one thing?
The Detroit Lions need to lose to ... the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Rodgers.
Yes, you read that correctly. If the Bears beat the Packers on Saturday, and the Lions lose to Chicago's most-hated nemesis of all-time, Rodgers, then they're in.
It's that simple.
The last two weeks of the season only matter for overall NFC seeding purposes, but the Bears would be in thanks to ... Aaron Rodgers.
On one hand, that might feel slimy to receive help from the man who coined the phrase, "I still own you!"
But, there's something absolutely hysterical about it. Rodgers helping the Bears secure a playoff berth almost makes up for the years of abuse -- almost.
OK, no it doesn't. But, it sure helps.
It would be pretty hilarious if this came to fruition. Now, the other side of the coin is that Detroit is a team that will very likely be playing angry. They've gone 4-5 in their last nine games and are coming off a loss. They have not lost two games in a row all season, which is worth noting.
Read more: Bears can still miss the playoffs in brutal fashion even with a win over Packers
All the more reason to lean on some help from the man no one ever would have expected.