Somehow, the Chicago Bears have worked themselves back into the NFC playoff picture. With consecutive wins over the Vikings and Lions, they’re within one game of a wild-card spot, despite holding a 5-8 record.

For a rebuilding club, though, that’s hardly the story. Instead, the Bears will be most excited that — thanks to Carolina’s 28-6 loss in New Orleans and New England’s upset of Pittsburgh — they’re now just a handful of friendly results from locking up the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. Carolina, which owes Chicago its 2024 first-round selection, now holds a two-game edge on the Patriots and Cardinals for that top slot.

The Round 1 order coming out of Week 14, with picks 19-32 based on current playoff seeding:

(*denotes division leader)

1. Chicago Bears (from CAR, 1-12)

Panthers’ remaining schedule: ATL, GB, at JAX, TB

2. New England Patriots (3-10)

Remaining schedule: KC, at DEN, at BUF, NYJ

3. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)

Remaining schedule: SF, at CHI, at PHI, SEA

4. Washington Commanders (4-9)

Remaining schedule: at LAR, at NYJ, SF, DAL

5. Chicago Bears (5-8)

Remaining schedule: at CLE, ARI, ATL, at GB

6. Las Vegas Raiders (5-8)

Remaining schedule: LAC, at KC, at IND, DEN

7. New York Jets (5-8)

Remaining schedule: at MIA, WAS, at CLE, at NE

8. New York Giants (5-8)

Remaining schedule: at NO, at PHI, LAR, PHI

9. Tennessee Titans (5-8)

Remaining schedule: HOU, SEA, at HOU, JAX

10. Los Angeles Chargers (5-8)

Remaining schedule: at LV, BUF, at DEN, KC

11. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)

Remaining schedule: at CAR, IND, at CHI, at NO

12. New Orleans Saints (6-7)

Remaining schedule: NYG, at LAR, at TB, ATL

13. Seattle Seahawks (6-7)

Remaining schedule: PHI, at TEN, PIT, at ARI

14. Los Angeles Rams (6-7)

Remaining schedule: WAS, NO, at NYG, at SF

15. Denver Broncos (7-6)

Remaining schedule: at DET, NE, LAC, at LV

16. Arizona Cardinals (from HOU, 7-6)

Texans’ remaining schedule: at TEN, CLE, TEN, at IND

17. Buffalo Bills (7-6)

Remaining schedule: DAL, at LAC, NE, at MIA

18. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)

Remaining schedule: MIN, at PIT, at KC, CLE

19. Green Bay Packers (6-7)

Remaining schedule: TB, at CAR, at MIN, CHI

20. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)

Remaining schedule: PIT, at ATL, LV, HOU

21. Minnesota Vikings (7-6)

Remaining schedule: at CIN, DET, GB, at DET

22. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

Remaining schedule: at IND, CIN, at SEA, at BAL

23. Houston Texans (from CLE, 8-5)

Browns’ remaining schedule: CHI, at HOU, NYJ, at CIN

24. Philadelphia Eagles (10-3)

Remaining schedule: at SEA, NYG, ARI, at NYG

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)*

Remaining schedule: at GB, JAX, NO, at CAR

26. Kansas City Chiefs (8-5)*

Remaining schedule: at NE, LV, CIN, at LAC

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5)*

Remaining schedule: BAL, at TB, CAR, at TEN

28. Detroit Lions (9-4)*

Remaining schedule: DEN, at MIN, at DAL, MIN

29. Miami Dolphins (9-4)*

Remaining schedule: NYJ, DAL, at BAL, BUF

30. Dallas Cowboys (10-3)*

Remaining schedule: at BUF, at MIA, DET, at WAS

31. San Francisco 49ers (10-3)*

Remaining schedule: at ARI, BAL, at WAS, LAR

32. Baltimore Ravens (10-3)*

Remaining schedule: at JAX, at SF, MIA, PIT

(Photo: Todd Rosenberg / Getty Images)

“The Football 100,” the definitive ranking of the NFL’s best 100 players of all time, is on sale now. Order it here.