Can the Bears make the playoffs after beating Cowboys?

The Chicago Bears have won three straight games to give themselves playoff hopes. Here’s what has to happen for it to become reality.

Chicago is suddenly alive in the NFC playoff picture. Not well, but alive.

After hammering the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, the Bears are 7-6 and winners of three straight. Going into Sunday’s slate, Chicago is trailing the Green Bay Packers by 2.5 games in the NFC North, and the Minnesota Vikings by 1.5 games for the final wild card slot.

Realistically, both probably win this weekend. Green Bay is hosting the Washington Redskins while the Vikings welcome in the Detroit Lions. Both are double-digit favorites.

For the Bears to make the playoffs, it’s going to be via the wild card. To start, Chicago has to win out. That won’t be an easy feat. The final three games, in order, are the Packers at Lambeau Field, hosting the Kansas City Chiefs and then on the road for the Vikings. Brutal.

However, if the Bears can somehow go 3-0 in that gauntlet, there’s hope. They would own the tiebreaker on the Vikings. Still, Minnesota would need to lose another game. It’s remaining schedule includes the Los Angeles Chargers (away) and Packers at home.

Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams would have to lose twice. The good news? The Rams have a brutal slate which includes the Seattle Seahawks (home), San Francisco 49ers (away) and the Arizona Cardinals (home). It’s very possible Jared Goff and Co. fall twice.

Ultimately, the prospects remain dim, but at least they are flickering. A loss to the Cowboys would have extinguished all realistic hopes. Now, the Bears are going to Lambeau for a game that truly matters. Who would have predicted that a month ago?