(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
By Christopher Dabe - NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
The New Orleans Saints will be unable to clinch a first-round bye for the playoffs when they play Monday against the Carolina Panthers.
The Chicago Bears (10-4) beat the Green Bay Packers 24-17 and clinched the NFC North championship. By doing so, they will stay within two games of the Saints in the conference standings.
If the Saints (11-2) lose Monday against the Carolina Panthers, that margin will go down to one game.
After this week, both teams will have two games left. If the Saints and Bears end the season tied in the conference standings, the Bears would hold the tiebreaker based on their record in conference games.
The Saints will earn a first-round bye if they win two of the final three games. ...
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