FOXBORO -- The Chicago Bears lead the NFC North by five games and have a three-game cushion in the race for the No. 1 seed in the conference. With six games to go, the division is theirs and claiming home-field advantage would appear to be a formality. They don't need to beat the Patriots to do it.

The Patriots lead the AFC East by two games. As it stands, they would probably have to win-out to claim a first-round playoff bye. But either way, the Pats are in strong position to make the postseason for the fifth time in six years while hosting at least one playoff game. They don't need to defeat the Bears to get there.