NFL Playoffs

The NFL playoff brackets are set.

The Bears and Seahawks have earned the right to relax next week and watch the other teams battle for the right to come to Soldier Field. The wildcard games in the NFC will be Tampa vs. Washington and New York vs. Carolina. If Tampa wins, they come to Chicago. If Tampa loses, the Bears will get the winner of the other game. This is because the NFL sets each round of the playoffs such that the top remaining seed matches up with the lowest remaining seed. Therefore, if Washington beats Tampa, they automatically play in Seattle.

This means the Bears will be playing the Bucs, the Giants or the Panthers at home two weekends from now. The Bears have already defeated two of these teams during the regular season, the Bucs and the Panthers. They didn't play the Giants this season.

If the Bears win their first game, they'd either go to Seattle or face any other team that advances right back here in Chicago!

The winner of that game is going to the Superbowl. SUPERBOWL!

Pretty amazing if you think back a few months. When Rex Grossman was injured in the preseason I was fit to be locked up. I knew the defense was going to be special if they stayed healthy and I was counting on getting enough offense from Rex and the other weapons. The Bears painted themselves into a corner by not having a legitimate backup QB on the roster. Well, it turned out the defense was truly special and they made due with Kyle Orton for the year, winning 10 games he started. With Rex coming back healthy and fresh, it appears the Bears now have as good a chance as any NFC team to advance to the Superbowl.

I have to pinch myself every time I say that.