NFL Power Rankings: The Chicago Bears have arrived

We take our weekly trip around some NFL Power Rankings to see how they rank the Chicago Bears.

They wanted a statement game from the Chicago Bears, and beating the defending NFC North Champs on Sunday Night Football should have sufficed.

They knocked off the Minnesota Vikings in impressive fashion, 25-20, and even though the Vikes closed to within a score late, the Bears had control for most of the game. Chicago’s defense flashed and the offense did just enough — against a good Viking D — by converting 50% of their third down tries and getting in position for three field goals and a touchdown. It wasn’t the prettiest, but style points don’t matter with a game and a half lead in the division.

But let’s see how the “experts” view the Bears by looking at some power rankings.

SB Nation has the Bears up to sixth overall this week.

The Bears only moved up one spot this week — just like the Steelers, Patriots, and Texans — but they deserve recognition for how substantially they’ve turned things around. Chicago hadn’t won more than six games in a season since 2013 and already has seven wins through Week 11.

ESPN moved the Bears up 7 spots, all the way to 6th, and they took a Thanksgiving theme for their rankings.

Thankful for: Hiring head coach Matt Nagy. Bears fans grew completely detached from the team when John Fox was in charge. Nagy is the complete opposite of Fox. He’s young, energetic, engaging and offensive-minded, exactly what the Bears needed to escape the doldrums of the NFC North. The Bears won 14 total games from 2015 to 2017. Nagy already has the Bears at seven wins with six games left to go in his first season at the helm.

NFL.com has the Bears up two spots, to 7th.

Forgive the romanticism here, but the Bears brought back fond memories of years gone by against the Vikings this past weekend. The way this defense puts up points recalls the final season of the Lovie Smith administration, when Chicago was scoring tons courtesy of Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Peanut Tillman and the gang. The famed Bears of 1985 also dominated, again on the shoulders of an aggressive defensive unit, although that D (surprisingly) only scored five touchdowns. The 2018 Monsters of the Midway have already reached that number and, due to Khalil Mack and Co., could claim the franchise’s first NFC North title since 2010. Ah, the Caleb Hanie era ...

Here’s how the Sporting News has it for Chicago.

6. Chicago Bears 7-3 (last week: 10)

The Bears needed a signature victory to prove this breakout season for Mitchell Trubisky and their defense is not just about preying on bad teams. That Vikings domination qualifies.

Sports Illustrated finally moved the Bears into the top 10.

6. CHICAGO BEARS (7-3)
Last Week’s rank: 13
Points in poll: 183
Highest-place vote: 6 (7)
Lowest-place vote: 12 (1)
Last week: Win 25-20 at Minnesota
Next week: at Detroit

The Bears told us they were going for it when they traded for Khalil Mack so soon before the season. They have more than backed up any expectations to this point.

Here’s how Yahoo Sports has it.

6. Chicago Bears (7-3, LW: 8)

It’s concerning that the Bears said Mitchell Trubisky wouldn’t have been able to practice on Monday due to a right shoulder injury. It’s a short week for them. We’ll assume Trubisky should be fine since he finished Sunday’s game, but it’s worth watching.

Where would you rank the Bears this week?

from Windy City Gridiron - All Posts https://ift.tt/2PHH0ZY