Since their 0-2 start to the season, the Bears are 6-1.
Yes, they’re still 0-2 in the division. And the teams they have beaten aren’t exactly shaping up for playing deep into January. But keep in mind that
expectations for this team were not very high.
We all wanted to see competent coaching and scheming, and growth from the quarterback. That was it.
But winning changes expectations, that’s the truth, and now fans want more.
The Bears are a tough team to rank in some ways because of their record. The NFL is full of mediocre teams.
Chicago will get more clarity in how they measure against better teams soon enough, in the meantime, let’s see what this week’s rankings say.
15. Chicago Bears (6-3) Previous Week: 15
What a difference a year can make, huh? Last year, the Bears were the team that found every possible way to lose games. This year, they are finding every way possible to win games. That said, they’ve had a soft schedule and haven’t exactly dominated the majority of that competition. The defense is a significant issue, stemming from their lack of pass rush and a severely injured secondary. We’ll see if their good fortunes can continue against better competition. Their final eight games feature just two teams with a record under .500.
16. Chicago Bears (18) Caleb Williams is becoming the player we hoped he’d be
Don’t listen to the nonsensical critiques out there that say quarterback Caleb Williams is causing problems for his offense because he’s not a stationary pocket passer. Williams’s superpower is extending plays and creating something out of nothing—and he was at his best in that regard on Sunday against the Giants.
Williams has done a great job of using his unique skills to get the offense out of bad situations, while head coach Ben Johnson has been one of the NFL’s best at making in-game adjustments to his play calling. Chicago is doing exactly what it should be doing on offense, and that’s why the Bears are winning.
10. Bears (No. 16; 6-3): They could make things interesting in January.
Editor’s note – Florio has the Bears higher than the Packers…
14 (15): Chicago Bears (6-3)
The Bears have won six of seven and it’s OK to not fully buy in. They probably wouldn’t have won Sunday if Jaxson Dart hadn’t gotten hurt in the third quarter. Still, no apologies needed for a 6-1 stretch. The comeback wins have plenty of value.
13. Chicago Bears (16) Coming back to beat the Giants was a good look for Caleb Williams. They are in the thick of the playoff race.
16. Chicago Bears (17) Things were not looking good when the Bears turned the ball over on downs midway through the fourth quarter, trailing 20-10 to the lowly Giants, who were without starting QB Jaxson Dart (concussion) for the final 15 minutes. But Caleb Williams rebounded from a slew of dropped passes to lead two thrilling TD drives in the final six minutes and pull off his fourth fourth-quarter comeback of the season. Williams gave the Giants fits by scrambling out of would-be sacks and making big plays on the move. The Bears have done a great job protecting the ball with only three turnovers since Week 3, allowing them to accumulate the league’s best turnover ratio on the season — by far — at plus-14. That’s a big reason why the Bears have won six of their past seven games. You can argue they haven’t beaten a great team yet, but a stiff remaining schedule will give them multiple opportunities to do so down the stretch.
The Athletic – Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
15. Chicago Bears (17)
Sunday: Beat Giants 24-20
Breakout player: Caleb Williams
It’s tough for a guy who was the No. 1 pick a year ago to earn this distinction, but Williams deserves it after a gutty, 230-yard effort Sunday that led Chicago to its sixth win in seven games. His 17-yard touchdown run was the game-winning score Sunday, and he had 63 yards on the ground overall. After a shaky rookie season, Williams is 12th in EPA per dropback (0.09) under first-year head coach Ben Johnson.
18. Chicago Bears (18): Their NFL-best +14 turnover differential is nearly double the next-best teams, the Jags and Bucs at +8. But how sustainable is that formula for a Chicago team that’s been barely escaping some of the league’s worst squads?
Who do you think has the Bears ranked the best? Top 10 feels a bit high, but 18 feels a tad low. Let us know what you think.
