NFL Power Rankings: Bears back in 1st place, but where are they ranked?

It has been a weird two week stretch for the Chicago Bears. They went from first to worst and back to first in the NFC North, but from a national perspective, pundits still thought highly of the Bears even after they lost two straight games. I expected them to drop down the Power Rankings after losing to the Dolphins and Patriots, but that didn’t happen.

They beat the Jets in convincing fashion without starting outside linebacker Khalil Mack, and starting wide receiver Allen Robinson II, so I wonder if this victory will catapult them up this week’s rankings.

Let’s find out...

We’l start with the Mothership, SB Nation, and they moved the Bears up to 8 after being just outside the top 10 a week ago at 11.

Here’s how our sister site, Bleeding Green Nation, has the Bears this week.

9 - Chicago Bears (LW: 11) - After suffering two close losses, the Bears bounced back with a win. The victory allowed the Bears to jump from last to first in the NFC North.

Let’s check in on the always comical Pride Of Detroit.

12. Chicago Bears (4-3; won 24-10 vs NYJ) (+1)

Mitchell Trubisky is still really bad but the Bears are managing to win despite him. The defense strangled the Jets offense and the offense did enough. Nothing about this team was impressive, but they took care of business and got a win.

There’s no bias in their writing over there...

We’ll check out one more SB Nation team site, so here’s how the Mile High Report has it.

18. ↔️ Chicago Bears:

The Bears definitely have their up and down moments. On the season they’ve been more up, but I just never really get that sense that they are able to beat that many teams.

Here you guys thought you were checking in on NFL Power Rankings, and a comedy show broke out!

ESPN dropped the Bears down a spot.

14. Chicago Bears

Record: 4-3

Week 8 ranking: 13

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is hit or miss. His inconsistency has been a trend almost the entire season -- the notable exception being his brilliant six-touchdown performance against the Bucs in late September. When Trubisky is on, he’s really good. When he’s off, he’s really off.

The USA Today has it like this.

15. Bears (15): Trick — it was starting to look like they might get swept by AFC East until they pulled away from Jets late in fourth quarter Sunday.

Here’s how the Washington Post has it.

12. Chicago Bears (4-3) | Last Week’s Rank: 16

The Bears beat the Jets with Khalil Mack on the inactive list. That says more about the Jets than it does about the Bears.

Yahoo Sports has the Bears like this.

13. Chicago Bears (4-3, LW: 14)

It was smart for the Bears to sit Khalil Mack on Sunday. Getting him healthy, and not just having him out there suffering through an ankle injury, will help the Bears. Most teams don’t want to act like there’s any game they “should win,” and they’d never admit it out loud, but it seems the Bears realized they could win the Jets game without Mack and acted in a smart way. You have to wonder if they’ll give Mack another off day next week in a winnable game against the Bills.

The Sporting News also moved the Bears up a wee bit.

15. Chicago Bears 4-3 (last week: 16)

The Bears have been good at home, as Mitchell Trubisky is feeling a groove in Matt Nagy’s offense. They must get much better on the road to remain in the NFC North lead.

The Bears will head to Buffalo this Sunday to take on a bad Bills team in a game that they should win. If they can end the first half of the season at 5-3, they’ll be in a good position to remain in the playoff hunt.