The Chicago Bears secured two big wins on Christmas Eve.
Not only did the Bears defeat the Arizona Cardinals, 27-16, at Soldier Field. But their chances of landing the No. 1 pick (thanks to the Carolina Panthers) in the 2024 NFL draft just got even better.
The New England Patriots upset the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, which all but ensures the top selection for Chicago. The Patriots now have four wins on the season, which is two more than the Panthers.
That means the Bears are just one more Panthers loss away from landing the No. 1 pick for the second consecutive year. At worst, Chicago will have no worse than the second overall selection. That would require Carolina winning out and the Cardinals losing out.
Looking ahead, the Panthers face the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team contending for the postseason, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a division foe looking to lock down the division crown.
Chicago has a 96 percent chance of having the first overall pick in the NFL draft, according to the New York Times.
