The Chicago Bears seized control of the NFC’s seventh and final playoff spot Sunday with a 41-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and now only need to beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 to secure the postseason berth.
The Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday put the Bears in control of their playoff chances — and they came through with a big win against the Jaguars, who lost their 14th straight game.
The Bears would also make the playoffs if they and the Cardinals both lose in Week 17. The Cardinals play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
It was the Bears’ fourth straight game with 30 or more points, a first for the franchise since 1965 according to the CBS broadcast.
The Bears led only 13-10 at halftime, but they scored 21 points in the third quarter to run away with the game. Entering Sunday, the Bears had two scored touchdowns in the third quarter all season.
They got big contributions from all over their roster.
Mitch Trubisky threw for 265 yards and two touchdown passes, both to veteran tight end Jimmy Graham. He also scored on a 6-yard touchdown run. Running backs David Montgomery and Artavis Pierce each had a touchdown, the first of Pierce’s career. And Allen Robinson, who began his career in Jacksonville, topped 100 yards receiving.
Montgomery and Robinson are the Bears first 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver in the same season since Alshon Jeffery and Matt Forte in 2014.
On defense, Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith had two interceptions against Jaguars quarterback Mike Glennon.
And Bears kicker Cairo Santos extended his made field goals streak to 24, tying a single-season franchise record. Robbie Gould made 24 straight in 2006, but his franchise-long streak was 26 in the 2005-06 seasons.
