Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith understands final three games could decide future

Lovie Smith says he's fine with the idea of his future with the Chicago Bears being based on the team's win-loss record at the end of the season.

Smith's team is in the midst of what could be a late-season collapse: after starting the year by going 7-1, his squad is 8-5 heading into a game against the NFC North Green Bay Packers. After seeming like the cream of the crop in the NFC, they're in danger of missing the playoffs, as they did last year after starting out 7-3. That's led to many wondering about Smith's job status. As ESPNChicago's Jeff Dickerson writes, Smith understands if the team makes a decision to move on based on his success or failure at the end of the year.

"I think every day I've been here, each day I think (when) all of us come to work we are going to do the best job that we possibly can," said Smith, who is under contract through the 2013 season. "All of our futures are tied, it's all based on wins and losses, really, and I'm OK with that."

Smith's teams have won the NFC North three times in his eight years, including a Super Bowl appearance only his third year as head coach, but have only gone to the playoffs once in the past five years.