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Sunday night football was a frustrating one to watch for Chicago Bears’ fans as it was another close game where the offense couldn’t get out of its own way. Poor reads, confusing play calls, and more drops led to a sixth loss for our favorite team. The lows of this season are amplified by the hope we had during the 12-4, NFC North Champion, Club Dubbing from a year ago, and a offseason of anticipation for what the 2019 team would become.
This 100th season should have been a celebration of the past while reveling in the present, but now that we’re facing another year with no playoffs to cheer for — the 20th in the last quarter century for us Bears’ fans — I can’t even enjoy the historical look-backs as much.
Let’s take a look around this weeks power rankings to get the national perspective of the Bears.
NFL.com has the Bears moving down 2 spots to to 23.
Mitchell Trubisky exited Sunday night’s loss to the Rams with a hip injury, but you can forgive the general public for wondering if Bears coach Matt Nagy was looking for a way out. Trubisky has been a massive disappointment in his third season, and with the Bears all but eliminated from the NFC playoff picture, the big story in Chicago will center on when the team begins the seemingly inevitable separation process from the No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. Chase Daniel is no upgrade, so it makes sense that Trubisky would be allowed to finish off the season as the starter. But is there anything he can do that would cause the Bears to stick with him in 2020? One would imagine Trubisky would need a hell of a finish in the final six weeks for that to happen. What have we seen since Week 1 to suggest a rebirth is in the offing?
Here’s how Yahoo Sports has it.
21. Chicago Bears (4-6, LW: 19)
I think I believe the Bears when they say Mitchell Trubisky’s hip was hurting. It’s also hard to believe he would have come out of the game under better circumstances. He is having a bad season and that had to make it easier to pull him when the Bears did. The injury report this week will be pretty interesting though.
Here’s how USA Today has the Bears.
23. Bears (21): Khalil Mack was completely shut out of box score Sunday night despite going against Rams offense line that’s been much maligned this year.
ESPN actually has the Bears holding steady at 20th and as they do, they give their power rankings a theme with this week’s picking ab underrated player for each team.
Most underrated player: Nick Kwiatkoski, LB
All Kwiatkoski does is make plays when given the opportunity. The reserve linebacker has been pressed into action multiple times this season because of issues with Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan, and Kwiatkoski has responded each time. A former fourth-round pick, Kwiatkoski had 10 total tackles, one sack and an interception in the Bears’ victory over the Lions in Week 10. Kwiatkoski also excels on special teams, where he made a huge tackle early in Sunday night’s loss to the Rams. -- Jeff Dickerson
Pro Football Talk has it like this.
21. Bears (4-6; No. 20): The Bears continue to be unable to string two good years together, but it feels like they’ll be stringing more than a few bad years together.
The Sporting News has the Bears down one.
20. Chicago Bears, 4-6 (19)
The Bears’ defense is doing its best to hold up with the offense remaining anemic, save for a few random big plays. A bad break-up seems more imminent for Matt Nagy and Mitchell Trubisky in one way or another.
CBS Sports has the Bears still at 21st in their rankings.
What’s going on with Mitch Trubisky? Was he really hurt, leading to his benching? This thing has gone bad in a big way.
Sports Illustrated has the Bears way down there...
26. CHICAGO BEARS (4-6)
Previous rank: 23
Points in poll: 65
Highest-place vote: 20 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 28 (1 voter)
Last week’s result: Lost to L.A. Rams, 17-7
This week: vs. N.Y. Giants
This was one they had to have to keep any playoff hopes alive against an NFC opponent also failing to live up to expectations. The offense stunk again (3-10 on third down), and Trubisky sitting out the last drive (hip) only intensifies questions about whether he is worth the $23 million option year next season.