NFL Power Rankings: The Chicago Bears are who they thought they were

While there were some national analysts that predicted the 2019 Chicago Bears would build off their 12-4 season a year ago and advance further this season, there were more that predicted the 2019 version of the Bears would take a step back.

It would seem they were correct...

The Bears are currently middling about with a 7-7 record and with the 10-4 Kansas City Chiefs up next and the 10-4 Minnesota Vikings up on week 17, the odds of the Bears finishing with a winning record are slim.

This has been a rough trip through the power rankings each week for Bears’ fans, but let’s see what they are talking about this time.

The Bears are down to 17 according to NFL.com.

Previous rank: No. 14

That’s a wrap on the Bears, who needed to find a way to beat the Packers in Lambeau to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They couldn’t do it, because the bad version of the Chicago offense returned at the worst possible juncture. The Bears managed just 14 yards in a scoreless first quarter and just 13 points overall, looking little like the offense that rolled up 800 yards and 55 points in the previous two weeks. Mitchell Trubisky made some plays and finished with 334 yards on a whopping 53 passes, but his fourth-quarter interception -- fired directly into the arms of defensive lineman Dean Lowry -- was the type of failure his season will be remembered by. The Bears have an interesting decision to make at quarterback in the offseason. Trubisky gets two more weeks to state his case.

ESPN has the Bears down one spot to 15th.

Offseason in two words: Rinse, repeat

The Bears perpetually underwhelm. Every so often, they have a good year and raise hopes across the city. And then, seemingly without fail, the Bears don’t live up to those expectations. The upcoming offseason is likely to have the same vibe. Many will expect the Bears to make the playoffs since the roster is talented. Fans will look past the obvious faults and cling to the belief that the Bears are just one or two lucky breaks away from being a Super Bowl contender. Then 2020 probably will end like most years for the Bears: without a trip to the postseason. -- Jeff Dickerson

Sports Illustrated moved the Bears up after losing?

18. CHICAGO BEARS (7-7)

Previous rank: 20

Points in poll: 106

Highest-place vote: 16 (2 voters)

Lowest-place vote: 21 (1 voter)

Last week’s result: Lost to Green Bay, 21-13

This week: vs. Kansas City

Finally, the Bears have mathematically bitten the bullet. No double-doink salvation this year, but Chicago at least made it interesting down the stretch, winning four of their last five before dropping a tough away game to their rivals. Still, if Jesper Horsted gets this lateral off, that’s a touchdown. From there, who knows?

CBS Sports moved the Bears down 1 to 16.

The playoff dreams ended with the loss to the Packers Sunday. This season has been a major fail.

Here’s how Yahoo Sports has it.

16. Chicago Bears (7-7, LW: 14)

The Bears are out of the playoff race, and now we can dissect what Mitchell Trubisky really meant when he seemed to criticize Matt Nagy and the play-calling. It’s going to be a long offseason in Chicago.

The Sporting News has it like this.

17. Chicago Bears, 7-7 (14)

The Bears got Mitchell Trubisky and the offense to wake up in the second half against the Packers, but there still was plenty left on the table. There might be a Year 3 together for Matt Nagy and Trubisky, but this team no longer can lean on its defense to win.

What are your thoughts on the power rankings this week?

Also, if the Bears get to 9-7 I think that qualifies them for the Lou Malnati’s Bear Weather Bowl.