NFL Power Rankings: The Chicago Bears are solidly in the top ten

Another week gone, and another week in first place for the Chicago Bears. Even though the Bears had their bye, they managed to see their lead in the NFC North increase thanks to the Detroit Lions beating the Green Bay Packers. It wasn’t a perfect off=weekend for them however as the Minnesota Vikings held on against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here’s how the NFC North standings look this week.

1. Bears: 3-1
2. Packers: 2-2-1
3. Vikings: 2-2-1
4. Lions: 2-3

But what about the all-important NFL Power Rankings that are voted on by a... Who exactly votes on these anyway?

Let’s start with the Mothership, SB Nation, and they have the Bears up to 8 from 11 a week ago. #respect

ESPN has the Bears like this while checking out the remaining strength of schedule.

7. Chicago Bears

Record: 3-1

Week 5 ranking: 10

Rest-of-season SOS ranking: 22nd. The Bears’ toughest remaining game is a Week 17 road game against the Vikings, where they have a 40 percent chance to win, according to FPI. This is actually just one of the Bears’ two remaining games in which they are not projected to win. The other is Week 14 against the Rams, where Chicago has a 41 percent chance to win. -- Williams

NFL.com has Chicago at the Bears staying at 8 coming off their bye week.

It was a week off for the Bears, who, after launching the Bucs into their bye week rudderless and mired in quarterback questions, probably would have preferred to keep playing. The worst time to sit? Right after the team’s biggest question mark provides a resounding answer. Rather than riding the wave of Mitch Trubisky’s prolific play and a defense that rampaged through September, Chicago got an early week off. Okie dokie. Next up: at Dolphins.

The USA Today has Chicago in the top ten as well!

9. Bears (14): In weird scheduling quirk, they’ll play next four games against AFC East. Feels like first-place Chicago should go 3-1 during this stretch.

Sports Illustrated has the NFC North leading Bears DROPPING in their rankings?

13. CHICAGO BEARS (3-1)

Last Week’s rank: 12

Points in poll: 170

Highest-place vote: 10 (3)

Lowest-place vote: 13 (5)

Next game: at Miami

A scheduling quirk now has the Bears playing four straight games against the AFC East. They could be in great position going into some meaningful division games come November.

Yahoo Sports has it like this.

9. Chicago Bears (3-1, LW: 9)

If the Bears truly are for real, this week is a good test. They travel to face a beatable Dolphins team in Miami on Sunday. Playoff teams win those kinds of games.

This is a good point.

If the Bears are who we think they are, they need to beat the teams that they are favored to beat. And the Bears, believe it or not, are favored on the road this week.

The Sporting News has it like so.

8. Chicago Bears 3-1 (last week: 11)

The Bears hold the slimmest of division leads coming out of their bye. They know they’re fine defensively with Khalil Mack, and now they hope they can stay hot offensively with Mitchell Trubisky.

The Washington Post has some kudos for the Bears as well.

8. Chicago Bears (3-1) | Last Week’s Rank: 9

The Bears emerge from their bye week in first place in the NFC North. They haven’t lost since the season opener in Green Bay. And anyone who thinks it’s not possible that they’ll outlast the Packers and Vikings in the division race hasn’t been watching closely enough.

What are your thoughts on the Power Rankings this week?