Four could go from playoff byes to bye, playoffs

0 Comments | USA TODAY, October, 2007 | by Tom Pedulla

It is as if someone took hold of the NFL and turned it upside down.

The Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers all earned byes as champions of their respective divisions entering last season's playoffs. Now all could be waving goodbye to lofty aspirations if problems that have them with a combined 4-11 record continue.

Defending NFC champion Chicago, trailing the 4-0 Green Bay Packers in the North, faces a big game when it visits Green Bay on Sunday night.

"Right now we're a 1-3 ballclub, and that's exactly how we've played," coach Lovie Smith says. "The good part about it is that we've just finished one quarter of the season. ... But we have to change courses in a lot of different areas."

Coaches of...