The Chicago Bears went from first in the NFC to seventh with one loss.
Could the Bears miss the playoffs entirely?
That’s a possibility given their tough schedule down the stretch and the inconsistency of quarterback Caleb Williams.
At 9-4, the Bears are tied with the San Francisco 49ers and are one game ahead of the Detroit Lions (8-5). They’re just behind Green Bay (9-3-1) in the NFC North following a 28-21 loss to the Packers on Sunday.
Williams, who has led Chicago to five fourth-quarter comebacks this season, had an opportunity for more heroics after driving the offense to the Packers 14 in the final minute. But he underthrew a wide-open Cole Kmet and was intercepted in the end zone by Keisean Nixon with 22 seconds remaining.
Williams has the lowest completion percentage (57.8) among quarterbacks who have thrown at least 200 passes.
“There’s certainly some that you can talk about each week where guys are open and we can certainly give him the ball on time and give him a chance to run after catch and all that,” coach Ben Johnson said. “Then, there’s that mix of, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s one of the most incredible plays I’ve ever seen in my life’ type deal with him. ... That’s something we’re striving to do, is combine both of those worlds to where we think we’re going to have a really good quarterback in this league, a really dangerous quarterback in this league, really dangerous offense, really good team for a long time when we’re really able to combine both of those thought processes. So, we’re not quite there yet. We’re working diligently every day.”
The Bears host the struggling Cleveland Browns (3-10) this week before finishing with a three-game stretch that will determine whether they win the division, earn a wild-cad spot or miss the playoffs.
A rematch with the Packers at Soldier Field on Dec. 20 could be a chance to reclaim the division lead. The Bears then visit the 49ers in Week 17 and close at home against the Lions on Jan. 4. If they lose to Green Bay or San Francisco or even split, there’s a possibility the matchup against Detroit could be for the final playoff spot. The Lions won the first meeting so they currently have a tiebreaker advantage.
In a wide-open AFC, the Houston Texans have a stingy defense that’s dominant enough to lead them to the Super Bowl.
The Texans (8-5) have overcome an 0-3 start to climb into the playoff race. The two-time defending AFC South champions trail the Jaguars (9-4) by one game.
They host the Cardinals (3-10) and Raiders (2-11) the next two weeks and finish with difficult games at the Chargers and home vs. the Colts.
Led by Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre, the Texans have allowed the fewest yards (266.3) and points (16.0) per game in the NFL. They held Patrick Mahomes to 14 of 33 for 160 yards and three interceptions in a 20-10 victory that damaged Kansas City’s playoff hopes.
“The main thing for me is I’m laser-focused on what’s in front and that’s how I want to keep our guys,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The main thing is having your eyes in front. Looking back on how we started, it’s easy to look back and see like, ‘Oh, such a bad start.’ Your eyes are in front. Your eyes are focusing on the next opponent, the next target, as I said, and it’s all about continuing to execute and finish. If you continue to focus on those things which you can control, not really worried about what others are saying, what’s the expectation for this game and that game. All that stuff, it doesn’t matter. For us, it’s eyes in front, focus on your target and execute.”
Despite so-so stats, C.J. Stroud did plenty of positive things to lead the offense against Steve Spagnuolo’s stout defense. Stroud delivered several big throws on third-and-long, extending plays with his legs before delivering passes.
“There were some critical third downs there, I think, with C.J. being able to step up in the pocket and make some plays on some of those third downs,” Ryans said.
Jalen Hurts had thrown just three interceptions in 692 pass attempts over his previous 28 games before getting picked four times by the Los Angeles Chargers in Philadelphia's 22-19 overtime loss on Monday night.
Hurts also fumbled after recovering a fumble on a return of one of his interceptions.
The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (8-5) have lost three in a row and, while they still lead the NFC East over Dallas (6-6-1), Philadelphia is reeling. A poor passing offense is a big reason why the team is struggling.
The Eagles were ranked 29th in passing last season but were led by Saquon Barkley and the league's No. 1 rushing offense. Barkley isn't finding the same running lanes this season — though he broke loose for a 52-yard TD run against the Chargers — and Hurts and the rest of the offense haven't picked up the slack.
On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a pass for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons, right, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams looks to pass against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Egypt and Iran, two Middle East nations which target gays and lesbians, have complained to FIFA over a World Cup soccer match in Seattle that is planned to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride.
Leaders in the nation's soccer federations publicly rebuked the idea of playing the match June 26 at Seattle Stadium, which local organizers say will include a “once-in-a-lifetime moment to showcase and celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities in Washington.”
In Egypt, the soccer federation issued a statement late Tuesday saying it sent a letter to FIFA “categorically rejecting any activities related to supporting homosexuality during the match.”
Seattle PrideFest has been organized in the city since 2007 by a nonprofit which designated the June 26 game for celebration before FIFA made the World Cup draw Friday.
FIFA chose Saturday to allocate the Egypt-Iran game to Seattle instead of Vancouver, where the teams' group rivals Belgium and New Zealand will play at the same time.
Already, organizers in Seattle have promoted an art contest for the game, including one entry of a rainbow-flagged sun rising over Mount Rainier as a crab goalie goes for a soccer ball while holding a cup of coffee in its pinchers.
“With matches on Juneteenth and pride, we get to show the world that in Seattle, everyone is welcome,” Seattle's Mayor-elect Kate Wilson wrote on social media. “What an incredible honor!”
FIFA controls only stadiums and official fan zones in World Cup host cities and should have no formal authority over community events like Seattle PrideFest.
FIFA declined comment Tuesday to the Associated Press, and did not address a question if it would consider switching the Belgium-New Zealand game to Seattle.
In Iran, where gays and lesbians can face the death penalty, the president of Iran’s Football Federation Mehdi Taj criticized scheduling the match during an interview aired on state television late Monday.
Taj said Iran would bring up the issue during a FIFA Council meeting in Qatar next week. The longest-serving member of the 37-person council chaired by FIFA President Gianni Infantino is Egypt's Hany Abo Rida.
“Both Egypt and we have objected, because this is an unreasonable and illogical move that essentially signals support for a particular group, and we must definitely address this point,” Taj said. State TV on Tuesday confirmed a complaint would be sent to FIFA.
The Egypt soccer federation led by Ado Rida said of the pride celebration it “completely rejects such activities, which directly contradict the cultural, religious and social values in the region, especially in Arab and Islamic societies.”
It urged FIFA to stop the celebration to “avoid activities that may trigger cultural and religious sensitivity between the presented spectators of both countries, Egypt and Iran, especially as such activities contradict the cultures and religions of the two countries.”
Iran had threatened to boycott the World Cup draw in Washington, DC over complaints about five of its nine-person delegation, including Taj, not getting visas to enter the United States.
Iranians are subject to a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration and the U.S. in the past has denied visas for those with ties to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, like Taj. Iran ended up sending a smaller delegation including the team's coach.
Tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington over Iran's nuclear program, particularly after American warplanes bombed atomic sites in the country during Israel's 12-day war with the Islamic Republic in June. Unlike the 2022 World Cup, however, Iran is not scheduled to play the United States in the World Cup's opening matches.
Asked about the complaint Wednesday, Seattle's organizing committee said it was “moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament.”
“The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle,” spokesperson Hana Tadesse said in a statement. "We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect and dignity that defines our region.”
For years, Egyptian police have targeted gays and lesbians, sparking warnings even from the app Grindr in the past. Though Egypt technically does not outlaw homosexuality, authorities frequently prosecute members of the LGBTQ+ community on the grounds of “debauchery,” or “violating public decency.”
Iran also has targeted the LGBTQ community and its theocracy is believed to have executed thousands of people for their sexuality since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Hard-line former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once famously went as far as to claim during a 2007 visit to the United States: “We don’t have homosexuals like in your country.” A crowd at Columbia University responded by laughing and heckling the leader.
FIFA risks being accused of a double standard if it sides with World Cup teams' federations over the city of Seattle.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA fiercely defended the right of the host nation's cultural norms to be respected in full by visiting teams.
A group of European federations wanted their team captains to wear a “One Love” armband with some rainbow colors that symbolized human rights and diversity, which FIFA and Qatari officials viewed in part as criticism of the emirate criminalizing same-sex relations. Some Wales fans had rainbow hats removed before entering the stadium.
Qatar also will play in Seattle at the World Cup, on June 24 against a European opponent which could be Italy or Wales.
AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
From left: Alexi Lalas and Ronaldo listen as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and host Andrés Cantor applaude as Francesco Totti, and Hristo Stoichkov look on during the match schedule reveal for the 2026 soccer World Cup in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
