Coming into 2024, the Chicago Bears knew that their path to the playoffs would have to go through one of the NFL’s toughest divisions. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers went 1-3 against them last year, and both made the playoffs. They also each won at least one playoff game. One can understand if people around the league are skeptical the Bears can navigate past those established contenders to reach their first postseason in half a decade. However, things may have just changed in a drastic way.