What are the Bears Playoff Chances?
Here's a quick look at several futures markets as they relate to the Bears' chances to make the playoffs. I used bet365 Illinois for each set of odds and converted those into a percent chance using implied probability.
| 🏈 Bears Make Playoffs | 51.2% (-105) |
| ❌ Bears Miss Playoffs | 53.5% (-115) |
| ⭐ Bears Win NFC North | 24.7% (+305) |
| 🏅 Bears Win NFC Championship | 7.41% (+1250) |
| 🏆 Bears Win Super Bowl | 4% (+2400) |
| ✅ Odds Last Verified: | August 19, 2026 |
It's worth noting these odds may vary across different Illinois sportsbooks and I would suggest checking at least two different operators before placing a wager.
How Bears Can Win The No. 1 Seed
Yes, the Bears can win the No. 1 seed. They currently have a 7.69% chance of snatching the top seed.
Can the Bears Make the Playoffs?
Yes. And the Bears can make the playoffs. The season is starting, and they have as good a chance as anyone.
Are the Bears Out of the Playoff Picture?
No, the Bears are not out of the race. The season is starting, and there are 18 weeks of football to play.
Chicago Bears Playoff Chances Week-by-Week
The season is underway, and we will update this section with the latest Bears' playoff chances each week from top Illinois betting apps.
| Week | Bears Playoff Chances |
| Preseason | 51% |
Latest Updates Impacting the Bears Chances to Make the Playoffs
Stay up to date with the latest Bears news and how it impacts their postseason chances:
- 📅 January 18: Chicago officially is eliminated after losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round.
- 📅 January 4: Chicago officially clinches the No. 2 seed and will face the Packers on Wildcard Weekend.
- 📅 December 27: Chicago officially clinches the NFC North with a loss by the Packers.
- 📅 May 21: Chicago signs OL Joe Thuney to a two-year contract extension.
- 📅 April 24: The Bears draft Michigan TE Colston Loveland in the first round of the 2025 draft.
- 📅 April 16: Chicago signs DB Kyler Gordon to a three-year contract extension and LB T.J. Edwards to a two-year contract extension.
- 📅 April 7: The Bears sign DL Jonathan Ford, DL Daniel Hardy, OL Bill Murray, DB Ameer Speed, and DL Chris Williams.
- 📅 April 4: Chicago signs DB Shaun Wade, WR Miles Boykin, and QB Case Keenum.
- 📅 March 24: The Bears sign DB Nick McCloud.
- 📅 March 19: Chicago signs RB Travis Homer, WR Devin Duvernay, and OL Doug Kramer Jr.
- 📅 March 17: WR Olamide Zaccheaus signs with Chicago.
- 📅 March 13: Chicago signs DL Grady Jarrett, TE Durham Smythe, OL Drew Dalman, and DE Dayo Odeyingbo.
- 📅 March 12: The Bears trade a 2026 fourth-round draft pick to the Chiefs for OL Joe Thuney and trade a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to the Rams for OL Jonah Jackson.
- 📅 January 21: Chicago hires Ben Johnson as the new head coach.
Make sure to bookmark this page to get all of the news you need as we follow the Bears' path to the playoffs.
Chicago Bears 2026 Schedule
The Bears have a challenging season ahead, with the second-toughest schedule in the NFL. How will they do?
Key Contributors Toward Bears Playoff Chances
The success of the Bears' season will ultimately come down to quarterback Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson. For Williams to have a chance at succeeding, the Bears need to have a significantly improved offensive line. After the Bears used free agency and the draft to revamp their O-Line, Chicago's offense has a chance for a strong pass game. Chicago also invested in offensive weapons for Williams, drafting a tight end in the first round of the draft.
👉More: Check out the best Bears Fantasy Football Team Names
Where Can I Bet on the Chicago Bears to Make the Playoffs?
Fortunately for sports fans, there is no shortage of options for betting on the Bears' playoff odds. You can place Bears bets both online and in person at retail sportsbooks. Legal betting apps such as Caesars Illinois and BetRivers provide convenience, while the experience of placing a bet in person is hard to beat.
Retail locations with sportsbooks that allow Chicago Bears betting include:
- 📍 Rivers Casino in Des Plaines (BetRivers)
- 📍 Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin (Caesars)
- 📍 Harrah's Metropolis Hotel & Casino in Metropolis (Caesars)
- 📍 Harrah's Joliet Hotel & Casino in Joliet (Caesars)
- 📍 Hollywood Casino Joliet in Joliet (ESPN BET)
- 📍 Hollywood Casino Aurora in Aurora (ESPN BET)
- 📍 DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis (DraftKings)
- 📍 Fairmount Park in Collinsville (FanDuel)
- 📍 Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria (FanDuel)
- 📍 Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney (Fanatics Sportsbook)
- 📍 Argosy Casino Alton in Alton (ESPN BET)
- 📍 The Temporary by American Place Casino in Waukegan (Circa)
- 📍 Bally’s Chicago Casino at Medinah Temple in Chicago (Bally Bet)
- 📍 Rockford Casino in Rockford (Hard Rock Bet)
If you're signing up for an online sportsbook for the first time, be sure to see what Illinois betting promo is available. While there won't be a bonus specifically for Chicago's chances to make the postseason, you'll be able to use it on any Bears game or any other sport/event of your choosing.
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Looking Ahead: Chicago Bears Playoff Picture
The Bears’ season ended in heartbreak in the Divisional Round, but not before one of the most dramatic late-season surges in franchise history. Chicago clinched both a playoff berth and the NFC North by rallying from a 21–3 deficit to stun the Packers 31–27 in Week 18, a game that announced Caleb Williams’ arrival on the national stage. Down 27–16 entering the fourth quarter, the rookie quarterback engineered a signature comeback, capping it with a game-winning touchdown to DJ Moore at Soldier Field. That win ignited serious discussion around the Bears’ Super Bowl odds and validated the aggressive, fearless offensive identity that carried them into January.
That momentum, however, ran headlong into a battle-tested Rams team in the Divisional Round. Despite playing at home, Chicago struggled to consistently handle Los Angeles’ pass rush, forcing Williams into hurried throws and limiting explosive plays downfield. While flashes were there—Williams extending plays with his legs and distributing the ball to Moore and Rome Odunze—the Rams controlled the game by leaning on Kyren Williams and allowing Puka Nacua to dominate the middle of the field. The loss underscored how narrow the margin is in the postseason, but it also reinforced a larger truth: with a franchise quarterback in place and meaningful playoff experience gained, the Bears’ window is officially open—and their Super Bowl odds entering next season will reflect that reality.
Where Do the Bears Rank in the NFC North?
The Bears finished last in the NFC North last season, being the only team in the division to not make the playoffs. But that changed this year, as they have won the NFC North. According to BetMGM Sportsbook Illinois, the Bears' odds to win the division, NFC, and Super Bowl are all off the board.
Where Do the Bears Rank in the NFC Playoff Standings?
The Bears currently have a chance to make the playoffs, but oddsmakers are hesitant about them.
Where Do the Bears Rank in the NFC Wild Card Race?
The Bears will have a good chance to make the playoffs, either as a Wild Card, or as a division winner.
Chicago Bears Regular Season Win Total 2026
The Chicago Bears' projected win total is 9.5 games.
| Over 9.5 wins | +105 |
| Under 9.5 wins | -125 |
Bears Postseason Outlook & Predictions
The Bears will attempt to replicate their 2025 season, and will have a much tougher schedule.
As for the draft, Chicago used their eight picks to add more offensive weapons and depth to its defense. The Bears could shock some people and make the playoffs in the upcoming season. However, the Bears Super Bowl Odds are very doubtful.
Chicago Bears Playoffs FAQs
The Chicago Bears' chances of making the playoffs in 2025 are 51%. Oddsmakers are basically split down the middle about whether Chicago will be a player in the NFL Playoffs this season. The continued development of Caleb Williams will play a role.
No, the Bears aren't out of the playoffs yet. Their postseason chances still depend on how the remaining schedule plays out, including their own results and how other conference contenders perform. While their margin for error may be slim, mathematically they still control at least part of their own fate heading into the final stretch.
Yes, the Bears can make the playoffs. Currently, they have a 51% chance of making the playoffs. This indicates that oddsmakers are not completely sold on this team running it back and making the playoffs again in a loaded NFC North.
You can bet on the Chicago Bears to make the playoffs in 2025-26 at any sportsbook licensed in Illinois, including ESPN BET, BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, Circa, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Most list the odds for the Bears to make the playoffs.
Author
Robert B. Hayek has been writing about sports for over a decade and is currently a member of the Gambling.com Group team. In his spare time, he runs the largest sports meetup group in Orange County, CA, actively participating in every sport imaginable. He is also a published author of five thriller novels, all available on Amazon.
