While Week 18 in the 2022 NFL season proved vital for a few playoff contenders and others trying to punch their ticket to the postseason dance, there was another vital matter to be settled — the team with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Should the Houston Texans defeat the Indianapolis Colts, while the Chicago Bears lose to the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago would secure the top pick in April’s draft. Obviously, with the supremely talented and promising Justin Fields already in the fold, this was a potentially exciting prospect for the Bears organization and their fans, given the massive trade-down possibilities.
And after the Colts’ Sam Ehlinger let off a brutal early pick-six to Houston DL Jonathan Greenard — while Nathan Peterman/Tim Boyle “did their job” for Chicago — Bears fans began to dream about a hopeful lucrative draft future:
.@jongreenard7 with the pick-six 👏
📺 » @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/t86u62meTN
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 8, 2023
Should scores hold — the Texans held a 10-point lead over the Colts at half, while the Bears were down 10 to the Vikings at the break — the Bears would be in the enviable spot of already having a gifted young QB but not having to draft one at No. 1 overall.
This is a final result that we may well remember for its essential long-term ramifications in the coming years.