The NFL and ESPN have both released their weekly power rankings of the NFL teams, and while both outlets can agree that the Chicago Bears are a top ten team, don't seem to agree on positioning.
The two biggest power rankings in the sport agree on what matters most to Chicago. ESPN has the Bears at No. 7, up from No. 9. NFL.com has them at No. 9, up from No. 11. Both outlets have them slotting up two spots following their win over the New England Patriots, and it's caused both to come to the same conclusion that Bears fans came to weeks ago: that this is a top ten team.
The same season looks different on every list
When talking about power rankings, it's important to understand that they're all subjective. Even the top names in the business can be biased, even if it's not something that can be seen from the surface. That's why discrepancies are expected.
NFL.com gave the top spot to the Minnesota Vikings, the league's only unbeaten team at 6-0. ESPN kept the San Francisco 49ers at the top of the list despite their loss at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons. ESPN has the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 4, while NFL.com dropped them down to No. 7.
What matters more than where either list dropped them this week is where the Bears go from here. The Chicago Bears have been on a long journey in the last decade, and now with a good coach, a talented young quarterback, and a talented team around him, the discussion surrounding the team has changed.
With the trade deadline close by, the Bears are expected to be active, likely trading for a piece that could help them on the edge, opposite the returning Montez Sweat.
The Bears next game is a Monday nighter against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks. But would a win over them be enough to push the Bears to top 5 or even top 3?
Either way, the rankings have finally caught up to what this season has been saying for a month, and now the Bears get to make their own case in primetime. Beat the champions in their building on Monday night, and next week's lists will have to find room a lot closer to the top.
| More Bears on DaWindyCity |
Add us as a preferred source on Google