As the Chicago Bears move into week 4 and the first “quarter” of the season wraps up, it’s a good time to take stock of where they stand.
While the season is no longer divisible by four, like in the 16-game season era, it’s still a good spot to stop and reflect on where the team is at.
Next week will be when those “quarter-season” pieces start popping up.
Chicago moved to 2-1 on the season with their Monday Night Football victory. They’ve been yo-yoing in the rankings due to the offensive volatility
over the first two weeks of the season.
Is this the week things will start to settle down?
WCG – Aaron Leming
10. Chicago Bears (2-1)
Biggest Surprise Through September: No Caleb Williams… No problem? Despite a disastrous Week 2 that cost the team three to four games with Williams out, Case Keenum helped deliver a winning month.
It would have been easy to write the Bears off after last weekend against Minnesota simply. The offense looked anemic; they lost their starting quarterback, and overall, spirits seemed down heading into a pivotal early-season matchup against the undefeated Eagles. Instead, they have ridden two great defensive performances and a lifetime-from-Keenum performance to come out of September at 2-1 and in good shape moving forward.
The Athletic – Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
9. Chicago Bears (2-1)
Last week: 12
Monday: Beat Eagles 27-7
QB confidence: Who needs Caleb, anyway?
If the Giants had waited a day, they might have traded for Case Keenum instead of McCarthy. Keenum started for Chicago on Monday night in place of Caleb Williams (hamstring) and Tyson Bagent (concussion) and torched the Eagles for 247 yards, two passing touchdowns and another on the ground. The 38-year-old was last a regular starter in 2019 in Washington, where he was 1-7 in eight starts. From 2020 to 2023, he split time between Cleveland, Buffalo and Houston but did not see any action in 2024 or 2025. Williams is expected to miss at least two more weeks, but it looks like the Bears will be OK until then.
ProFootballTalk – Mike Florio
Bears (No. 12; 2-1): They should ride with Case Keenum until Caleb Williams returns.
NFL.com – Nick Shook
12. Chicago Bears (16) Who needs Caleb Williams when you have … Case Keenum?! Monday night served as a testament to the value of experience and lasting athletic talent, because they blended perfectly to produce a memorable performance for Keenum, the 38-year-old who diced up the Eagles and propelled Chicago’s offense to a 20-point victory. As impressive as Keenum was, so too was Chicago’s defense, which stifled Philadelphia’s offense, forced three turnovers and ensured the Eagles weren’t going to come close to mounting a comeback. It’s only one win, but it represents a whole lot more for the Bears, who had every reason to lose themselves in self-pity. They instead decided to rise above and drop a hammer on Philadelphia.
Yahoo Sports – Frank Schwab
11. Chicago Bears (2-1, LW: 14)
Case Keenum will be the feel-good story from the Bears’ impressive win over the Eagles on Monday night, and rightfully so. A 38-year-old third-string quarterback played a great game. But the Bears’ defense might be much better than expected. In Week 2, they gave up nine points to the Vikings, but that was mostly dismissed because Chicago lost that game. On Monday night the Bears allowed seven points, and had the Eagles’ snap on the final play of the first half been a half-second later, it would have been a shutout. If the Bears’ defense is even above average, the offense will be very good when Caleb Williams returns, or apparently no matter who is playing quarterback.
CBS Sports – Pete Prisco
9. Chicago Bears (12) They beat up the Eagles Monday night. The defense played much better, and Case Keenum was sharp in his first start. Maybe they can handle Caleb Williams being out for a month.
ESPN – Courtney Cronin/NFL Nation
11. Chicago Bears (2-1)
Week 3 result: Beat the Eagles 27-7
Week 3 ranking: 11Fantasy surprise: WR Kalif Raymond
At best, the 11-year veteran was considered a waiver wire add in the preseason given his status at WR108. With a group of Chicago playmakers highlighted by Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, Raymond wasn’t projected to factor into a significant portion of the Bears’ target share, but that went out the window quickly. Through three games, Raymond leads the Bears with 21 targets, which he turned into 19 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown. He has twice been his team’s leading receiver (wins over Carolina and Philadelphia). Raymond ranks 12th among wide receivers in fantasy production (15.5 fantasy points per game), and his production on punt returns adds to his overall fantasy value. — Courtney Cronin
USAToday – Nate Davis
9. Chicago Bears (13): Not only did Ben Johnson’s offense barely miss a beat without QB Caleb Williams, Dennis Allen’s defense was also more than up to the task of stifling Philadelphia’s attack. Those Windy City sails remain plenty full even with Williams still up to a month away from returning.
What do you think about the Bears’ power rankings placement this week?
