Not every team can start the season like the almost-perfect New England Patriots (8-1), Pittsburgh Steelers (8-1) and Philadelphia Eagles (8-1).

But for the others, never fear – hope is on the way! Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990, 13 clubs with a .500 or worse record after nine games have made the playoffs. In the NFL the old cliché proves true – "It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish."

One team that is certainly moving in the right direction after a 1-5 start is the Chicago Bears, winners of three consecutive games for the first time since 2001, capped by the thrilling 19-17 overtime win at Tennessee on Sunday. Under first-year head coach LOVIE SMITH, the Bears have used a stifling defense to move to within one game of NFC North leaders Green Bay and Minnesota, each at 5-4.

"It was a big win for us and a lot of guys stood out on the defensive side of the ball," Smith said. "We were getting great pressure throughout and it was just good to end it the way we did."

And the way the Bears ended it was on a safety in overtime, as pressure applied by defensive ends ALEX BROWN and ADEWALE OGUNLEYE led to the game-winning points and marked only the second overtime game in NFL history decided by a safety (Minnesota 23, LA Rams 21, November 5, 1989).

The Bears will aim for a fourth consecutive victory on Sunday when they return to Soldier Field to host the Indianapolis Colts and their red-hot quarterback, PEYTON MANNING.

A look at the 13 clubs to qualify for the playoffs since 1990 after having a sub-.500 record through nine games:

In Arizona, the Cardinals have rebounded from an 0-3 start to pull to 4-5 after a 17-14 home win against their former NFC East rivals, the New York Giants.

The Cardinals, who trail the 5-4 St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks by one game in the NFC West and face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, received a standout performance against New York from defensive end BERTRAND BERRY. Berry, signed by the club as a free agent (Denver) in the offseason, had 4.0 sacks, helping the club come back from a 14-3 deficit.

"We're 3-1 at home," said head coach DENNIS GREEN. "I think that if you can establish playing your best football at home, then that gives you a chance to build on other things. Hopefully with a 4-5 record and a chance to be .500, we'll be able to play our best football of the year next week against Carolina and for the rest of the season."

Some teams have finished perfectly in recent years, with 10 clubs winning their final seven games since 1990. Of those 10 teams, six began their run to the playoffs with a record no better than 5-4.

A look at the teams to finish the season with seven consecutive wins since 1990, including the Super Bowl XXXVIII champion New England Patriots:

For the Packers, a strong finish has been a matter of course recently. Green Bay has a 65-33 (.663) record over the final seven games of the season since 1990, tied with San Francisco for the best in the NFL.

The Packers, who travel to Houston to face the Texans on Sunday, have gotten a head start on a strong finish, rebounding from an uncharacteristic 1-4 start to win four consecutive games by an average margin of 16.5 points per game.

A look at the clubs with the best records over the final seven games of the season since 1990: