Dec. 07--The Chicago Bears were officially eliminated from postseason contention Sunday, a fate that had been expected for weeks.
The Bears (5-8) have now missed the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. They have qualified only once since their Super Bowl campaign in 2006.
The Detroit Lions' 34-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the final nail in their coffin.
The Lions' ninth victory of the season means the NFC's two wild card teams will have at least nine wins. The Bears could get to only eight by winning their last three games.
Two NFC North teams, the Lions and Green Bay Packers, already have nine wins. The same is true in the NFC East, where the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles each have nine through the early games Sunday.
The Bears will play out the string at home against the New Orleans Saints on Monday, Dec. 15, at home against the Lions on Dec. 21 and at the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 28.
"We're going to do everything we can to continue to stimulate these guys to come out, and they have to do it on their own," second-year coach Marc Trestman said Friday. "They have to be accountable. They're professionals. We have a game to play now a week from Monday night and they have to get themselves ready to play."
