The road to the playoffs: Bears look to clinch No. 2

Assuming the Atlanta Falcons defeat the 2-12 Carolina Panthers and finish with at least 13 wins, they will own the top seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The second seed will go to the winner of the NFC North or East, and they will receive a first-round bye and play their first playoff game at home. The No. 3 seed does not get a bye but would host a first-round playoff game on Jan. 8 or Jan. 9.

The Bears can clinch the No. 2 seed this week with a victory over the New York Jets and losses by the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.

In the case of identical records, the first tie-breaker is head-to-head competition. The Bears own the tie-breaker over the Eagles on the strength of their 31-26 victory in Week 12. The Giants own the tie-breaker over the Bears because of their 17-3 win in Week Four.

The winner of the NFC West will be the fourth seed, and that race is still between the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks, who are both 6-8, and the San Francisco 49ers who are 5-9. The No. 4 seed will host the other first-round playoff game.

Run for the playoffs

Here's a look at the schedules for teams playing for seeds in the NFL playoffs:

#Falcons 12-2: vs. SAINTS (10-4), vs. PANTHERS (2-12)

*Bears 10-4: vs. JETS (10-4), at Packers (8-6)

Eagles 10-4: vs. VIKINGS (5-9), vs. COWBOYS (5-9)

Saints 10-4: at Falcons (12-2), BUCS (8-6)

Giants 9-5: at Packers (8-6), at Redskins (5-9)

Packers 8-6: vs. GIANTS (9-5), vs. BEARS (10-4)

Bucs 8-6: vs. SEAHAWKS (6-8), at Saints (10-4)

Rams 6-8: vs. 49ERS (5-9), at Seahawks (6-8)

Seahawks 6-8: at Bucs (8-6), vs. RAMS (6-8)

49ers 5-9: at Rams (6-8), vs. CARDINALS (4-10)

# clinched playoff berth

* clinched division title