The NFL season is quickly moving through November, Thanksgiving is on the horizon, and yet it still feels like each week a different team ends up on the top of everyone’s power rankings.
The Chicago Bears
keep on winning, improbably, but are moving in the right direction as they now sit atop their division.
The Kansas City Chiefs are falling, along with the other teams that can’t seem to win consistently. And then there are teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers who keep winning but somehow not that impressively.
But debate is half the fun of the NFL. Let’s take a look around at where the writers who rank put the Bears this week.
11. Chicago Bears (7-3) Previous Week: 15
Are there any Bears fans still alive out there? Sunday’s 19-17 victory in Minnesota became their third straight comeback win in the final 20 seconds of the game. Similar to the barn-burner in Cincinnati, the Bears blew a comfortable lead, yet willed their way to a last-second win. It’s hard to believe this team is (7-3), the same way that it’s ridiculous to think that they’ve played just one team that is currently over the .500 mark. That changes in Week 12 when the Steelers come to town.
12 (14): Chicago Bears (7-3)
The Bears pulled another win out of the fire, rallying for a field goal after the Vikings took a late lead. They’ve had five wins by five points or less. At some point that good fortune might run out, but they’ve already stacked seven wins and need only a few more to be in the playoff field.
16. Chicago Bears (18): It’s remarkable and commendable that they sit atop the NFC North. Right now. It’s also notable and maybe not ultimately viable given they have yet to beat a team with a winning record. For now.
7. Bears (No. 10; 7-3): They’re this year’s unofficial find-a-way franchise. And they might stumblebum into a division title.
11. Chicago Bears (13) At 7-3, they lead the division. Ben Johnson has done an impressive job in his first year. But now the schedule toughens up.
16. Chicago Bears (16) The Bears might be playoff ready in head coach Ben Johnson’s first year, but what we’re seeing right now is much bigger than just 2025. Rookie tight end Colston Loveland is coming into his own as a receiver, as is rookie receiver Luther Burden III. And quarterback Caleb Williams is spreading out opportunities evenly every week. While the passing game isn’t totally humming yet, we’re seeing flashes of what could be possible, and that could be the foundation for one of the league’s better offenses going forward.
14. Chicago Bears (16) The Bears are still learning how to put teams away more effectively, but it’s hard to argue with the final results, and darn it if they don’t give you 60 minutes of entertaining ball, even with plenty of hiccups. Caleb Williams has done some things very well this season, especially avoiding turnovers and sacks, but there’s still a higher level of performance that he and the offense can unlock. The reinforcements coming on defense provide even more reason for optimism. Special teams won the game against the Vikings but also almost lost it with various mistakes, part of a chronic issue. This team has scored four fewer TDs than its opponents, and the schedule hasn’t been all that challenging, but you have to tip your cap to the immense progress Ben Johnson’s Bears have made to this point.
The Athletic – Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
12. Chicago Bears (7-3)
Last week: 15
Sunday: Beat Vikings 19-17
A suggestion: Go to Mass
It’s not our intention to convert anyone to anything, but the Bears are 7-3 since Chicago native Robert Prevost (now known as Leo XIV) was elected Pope. They have come from behind in the final two minutes of five games this season and won seven of their last eight overall. The schedule down the stretch is brutal and includes the Eagles, 49ers, Lions and Packers (twice), so playing it safe on Sunday mornings seems like a good plan.
What do you think of this week’s rankings? I still think Florio and Prisco might be a bit too high, which The Athletic has Chicago above teams like Kansas City and Baltimore, the latter of whom beat the Bears.
Let us know what you think.
