The Bears hit 10 wins and are entering clinching scenarios. @SamHouseholder has the week 16 power rankings roundup.
It’s getting to be do or die for the NFL season.
With just three games left, clinching scenarios are in play and the stakes are getting higher.
Maybe power rankings mean just a little bit more now.
Or maybe not.
But the Chicago Bears are in the thick of it, and as a fan base five years removed from playoff implications, it’s exciting.
Where do we think the Bears rank among the other playoff-ready teams? Let’s take a look.
8. Chicago Bears (10-4) Previous Week: 8
Most Deserving Pro Bowler: G Joe Thuney
Just days before the legal negotiation period opened, the Bears executed a pair of trades in back-to-back days to rebuild the interior of their offensive line. The second of those moves was none other than the four-time All-Pro. As a whole, Chicago retooled all three spots on their interior line, and although it took some time for them to gel, Thuney continues to be one of the league’s elite offensive linemen. According to Pro Football Focus, Thuney is the top-rated pass-blocking guard. He’s given up just one quarterback hit, committed two penalties, and given up no sacks. He’s been everything and more than the Bears could have hoped for.
6. Chicago Bears (7) They have the top spot in the NFC North as they ready for the rematch with the Packers. The division is theirs to win right now.
5 (6): Chicago Bears (10-4)
Are the Bears the fifth-best team in the NFL? Probably not. But nobody behind them has shown enough to move into the top five. And Chicago, who built a nice record on close wins against bad teams, has played much better the past three weeks and had those wins banked. The injury to Micah Parsons hurts Chicago’s biggest threat in the division. If Chicago beats Green Bay on Saturday night, the Bears will justify this ranking.
10. Chicago Bears (11): G Joe Thuney received Offensive Player of the Year votes in 2024 with Kansas City. This year in the Windy City? He’s allowed one hit on QB Caleb Williams … in nearly 900 snaps.
11. Chicago Bears (13) In subzero conditions against a solid Browns front, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams showed why Chicago believes that he’ll turn this franchise’s fortunes around. His ball tore through the cold air and gusts of wind, and he played with the confidence and control we expect of a franchise quarterback.
Williams’s success came almost entirely from the pocket and within structure, and that’s been a missing piece in Chicago’s offense. If he can balance out this unit’s already efficient run game by consistently passing like this, the Bears could go on a run this postseason.
6. Chicago Bears (7) – The secret to the Bears’ success has been their turnover margin, with Chicago racking up 30 takeaways against just 10 turnovers. No one has taken the ball away from opponents as frequently as the Bears (the Jaguars rank second with 26 swipes), and only the Lions (eight turnovers) have coughed it up fewer times. It was a big factor Sunday, too, with the Bears winning the turnover battle 3-0, allowing them to put the Browns away late after leading just 14-3 six minutes into the second half. There were other positive developments, with Caleb Williams playing well against a good Browns defense and DJ Moore and Luther Burden III stepping up after Rome Odunze was a late scratch following pregame warmups. That showed a level of focus and mental toughness for a team that is rounding into postseason form — one that also finds itself back in the NFC North lead after Green Bay’s loss in Denver.
The Athletic – Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
10. Chicago Bears (10-4)
Last week: 10
Sunday: Beat Browns 31-3
MVP: Drew Dalman
The Bears’ new center is serving as a representative here for the remade interior of Chicago’s offensive line, which also includes guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. The Bears lead the league in yards per carry before contact (2.09) and rushing first downs/touchdowns (123) and are second in rushing yards overall (2,126). Chicago ran the ball 33 times Sunday on the way to overpowering a very good Browns defense.
What do you think of Chicago’s ranking this week?
Category: General Sports
