NFL Power Rankings: Checking in on the Bears

As the Chicago Bears prepare to head into week 9 of the 2019 season, I don’t think there were many people that expected them to be 3-4 at this juncture. The Bears have been one of the more disappointing teams in the league this year and it looks like it’ll be a struggle just to finish .500. Anything can happen between now and then, but I can’t see the Bears (who are only 1-3 in Soldier Field) as being favored in any of their remaining games this year.

NFL.com, who was one of the few sites that have been giving the Bears the benefit of the doubt and ranking them higher, has seen enough to drop them down to 20 this week.

Previous rank: No. 15

This is fast turning into a Murphy’s Law season for the Bears: Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. On Sunday, it was the kicker ... again. Eddy Pineiro missed a 41-yard attempt wide left as time expired, giving the Chargers a 17-16 win at Soldier Field. Matt Nagy offered a fiery response to reporters who questioned his decision to not attempt a move deeper into Bolts territory before the kick, but you wonder if he felt as resolute about his decision when he put head to pillow on Sunday night. The Bears have now lost three straight, a slump that has buried them in the NFC North and put their playoff hopes in great peril in a loaded NFC. Mitchell Trubisky committed two killer turnovers in the fourth quarter against the Chargers, but Nagy announced Monday he will stick with his starter. It’s must-win time for the Bears and their QB.

ESPN has their “player to step up” listed among their Power Rankings this week and they drop the Bears down one to 17.

Player who needs to step up: Trey Burton, TE

Mitchell Trubisky is too easy of an answer. The Bears have a multitude of issues beyond quarterback, and tight end is at the top of the list. Chicago signed Burton to a four-year deal that included $22 million in guarantees. Burton is making $6.8 million in 2019. The “U” tight end is a critical position in the Andy Reid style of offense, but Burton has 14 catches for 84 yards and zero touchdowns. -- Jeff Dickerson

Here’s how Sports Illustrated has it.

19. CHICAGO BEARS (3-4)

Previous rank: 17

Points in poll: 98

Highest-place vote: 15 (1 voter)

Lowest-place vote: 23 (1 voter)

Last week’s result: Lost L.A. Chargers, 17-16

This week: at Philadelphia

That might have been the one that breaks this team. This was the snake-bit bowl, with the mantle now officially passed from the Chargers to the Bears. A road matchup at the Linc against an Eagles team trying to claw back into the NFC East race doesn’t look like the best opportunity for a bounce-back game.

CBS Sports dropped the Bears 6 spots to 22.

The passing offense is just way too limited right now. At some point, Mitch Trubisky has to be better.

Here’s how Yahoo Sports has it.

18. Chicago Bears (3-4, LW: 15)

It did not take long for the shine to come off Matt Nagy, did it? This week brings another round of criticism, especially with his decision to settle for a 41-yard field goal with a well-documented shaky kicking situation. Vic Fangio was perhaps the best coordinator in the league last season. Maybe the NFL Coach of the Year Award went to the wrong guy? It’s too early to bury Nagy, but there are more questions about him now.

And that’s all I can take this week...

Anyone think the Bears can knock off the Eagles this Sunday to draw even at 4-4?