Windy City Gridiron
Every week, someone in the comments inevitably writes that they do not care about power rankings.
Even though they looked at the article and took the time to comment.
That’s all well and good. It’s why we write the content. We say we don’t care, but the clicks say otherwise.
So you don’t have to admit that you actually looked at them and read it. Fine.
This might be the week to say they don’t matter, though. Since the Chicago Bears are coming off a close but tough loss to their rivals. And they have a quick turnaround for the rematch.
Plus, since it’s December, there is so much that’s going to change week-to-week with seeding, scenarios and which teams are in and out.
Let’s get to the rankings.
8. Chicago Bears (9-4) Previous Week: 6
Biggest Question: How high of expectations are “too high” for Ben Johnson’s squad in Year 1?
Following a disastrous (5-12) season that saw the Bears fire a head coach in-season for the first time in franchise history, it was fair to wonder how big an improvement this team could make in one season. Vegas set their win total at (8.5), and they surpassed that with a Black Friday win on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs. The playoffs went from a dream to a possibility in the span of three weeks, but even if they play meaningful football in January, what should expectations be? That’s something that Bears fans continue to grapple with in an already highly successful 2025 campaign.
The Athletic – Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
10. Chicago Bears (9-4)
Last week: 6
Sunday: Lost to Packers 28-21
Worst-case scenario: A stacked box
The Bears are second in the league in rushing (1,984 yards) and third in EPA per rush (0.05), but second-year quarterback Caleb Williams hasn’t been able to take full advantage of that yet. Chicago is 14th in passing EPA (32.15), and Williams has the worst off-target throw rate in the league (15.3 percent). The Packers played heavy boxes often on Sunday, putting the pressure on Williams to beat them. He finished 19-of-35 for 186 yards and was picked off on his final pass of the game.
11. Chicago Bears (8): It’s been a fantastic ride in Year 1 with Johnson. Yet it also feels like the bottom could fall out at any point following a weekend when the Bears dropped from the NFC’s first seed to its seventh. Chicago’s final three games are against Green Bay, San Francisco and Detroit.
7. Chicago Bears (6) – They played well in the loss to the Packers but just couldn’t make plays late. The pass defense has to be better.
8. Bears (No. 5; 9-4): Even though they lost to the Packers, they’re showing they...
