The Chicago Bears didn’t imagine they’d be in line for a top pick in the 2023 draft. They haven’t played like it. One can’t comprehend how close this team has been to having a winning record. Of their 12 losses this season, seven have been by one score. If even half those games went the other way, the Bears would be 6-9 or 7-8. Sadly, a mixture of bad luck, injuries, and lacking overall talent have conspired to put them in this position. Right now, the Bears are two losses from locking down the #2 pick. However, there is greater intrigue brewing with the #1 pick.
For most of the year, that spot has been held firmly by the Houston Texans. However, their victory over the Tennessee Titans last week puts Chicago only a half-game back from claiming the spot. What’s even crazier is there is a reasonable chance they will win one of their remaining two games. The team has played pretty well. Aside from the win over Tennessee, they also took Kansas City to overtime and had a 4th quarter lead before falling to Dallas. Up next, they have Jacksonville, who, according to Adam Stites of USA Today, may not have much incentive to focus on their upcoming game.
“By the time the Jaguars step on the field against the Texans in that contest, the Tennessee Titans will have already played two games. The Titans will face the Texans on Saturday before meeting the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.
If Tennessee loses one or both of those games, the Jaguars and Titans will duel for the AFC South title in Week 18. It wouldn’t matter if the Jaguars are 8-8 after rolling through the Texans or 7-9 after laying down.”
That means the upcoming game is entirely inconsequential for the Jaguars. It doesn’t matter if they win or lose. They will still play Tennessee for the division in the season finale. If they decide to rest Trevor Lawrence, who is dealing with a toe injury, that gives the Texans a clear path to their third win.
If Jacksonville still takes care of business, the Texans will have an even bigger chance to get that win in the season finale against Indianapolis. The Colts are in the midst of a brutal five-game losing streak. It’s been characterized by an offense averaging 15.4 points per game. They’ve turned the ball over 12 times in that stretch. It’s been especially bad over their last six quarters.
Houston took a 20-6 lead in their first meeting with the Colts before the game ended in a tie. So the Texans know they can beat this team. It would be a great feeling if they sent their rivals tumbling into an uncertain off-season with what could be their seventh consecutive defeat. This means all the Chicago Bears would have to do is lose their final two games to Detroit and Minnesota to secure the #1 pick for the first time since 1947. That should be a difficult task with how absurdly banged up their roster is lately.
