2021 Playoff picture: Bears begin outside the hunt

Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports It’s that time of year. Whatever football programming you consume nowadays will begin, if they haven’t already, showing “playoff picture” snippets, periodically, week by week. It’s a staple designed to conjure up interest in fledgling teams that have no shot at beating any actual heavyweight fighting for their seasons in do-or-die football. If you follow the Bears, you’re used to them being one of those “in the hunt” teams near the very bottom of such graphics, if they’re featured at all.

With eight games remaining in the 2021 NFL season, the Bears are the NFC’s No. 15 seed. Huzzah! We’re already on track with expectations! Hopefully, we don’t check off too…