NFL Power Rankings: Bears win in Denver and still go down

Winning in Denver is no joke, and even though the game wasn’t very exciting for the first 59 minutes and 59 seconds, the Chicago Bears still found a way to leave the Mile High city with a 1-1 record. But will that 16 to 14 win against the Broncos be enough to move the Bears up in the power rankings this week?

Nah...

Of the several power rankings I checked only one had the Bears going up and only one had the Bears in the same spot as last week.

The Bears will need to show a competent offense before getting any national respect.

Let’s check in on the experts.

The Business Insider is apparently in the business of power rankings now, and they have the Bears holding steady at 13 this week.

One thing to know: After the infamous “double doink” and a training camp of kicking horrors, how ironic for the Bears to get their first win of the season on a last-second, 53-yard field goal.

Wow, that is an interesting bit of irony!

Over at NFL.com, they have the Bears up two spots to number 9.

How can you not feel happy for Eddy Pineiro? Bears coach Matt Nagy waged psychological warfare with his kickers all summer, showing an almost maniacal determination to find someone with the physical ability and mental resolve not to double-doink it when it matters most. When the SI story came out detailing the methods of Nagy’s madness, how the team brought in nine kickers and used a byzantine scoring system posted daily at team headquarters, the whole saga felt doomed. But there was Eddy Money (R.I.P.) smoking a 53-yard field goal through the uprights to steal a win from the Broncos at Mile High. Pineiro only had that chance because Mitchell Trubisky made the biggest throw of his young season, a 25-yard strike to Allen Robinson to put the Bears on the fringe of field-goal range with one second to play. It’s a throw that could be huge from a confidence perspective going forward.

That SI article featured some salty unemployed kickers looking fr an outlet to complain, but the one kicker did mention the try outs challenged them mentally, which was the point of the unorthodox practices that Matt Nagy put them through.

Speaking of Sports Illustrated, here’s how they see the Bears this week.

16. CHICAGO BEARS (1-1)

Previous rank: 15

Points in poll: 187

Highest-place vote: 11 (1 voter)

Lowest-place vote: 23 (1 voter)

Last week’s result: Beat Denver, 16-14

This week: at Washington (Monday)

The Bears celebrated Eddy Piñeiro’s 53-yard game-winner like it was the Super Bowl. Imagine what they’ll do if Trubisky throws a touchdown pass.

A Trubisky TD pass and I say we parade down Michigan Avenue.

Yahoo Sports has it like this.

14. Chicago Bears (1-1, LW: 10)

The offense is broken. The crazy last-second win saves a lot of grief for the next week, but Chicago isn’t going anywhere unless the offense gets significantly better. That starts with Mitchell Trubisky, who has not played well enough.

Here’s how the USA Today has Chicago ranked.

19. Bears (13): QB Mitch Trubisky’s 25-yard pass to set up Sunday’s game-winning FG at gun was clutch — and maybe only good play he’s had the entire season.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports has the Bears dropping two to 17.

Was that a season-saving kick against the Broncos? If they fell to 0-2, that’s a tough way to start for a team most see as a Super Bowl contender. The offense doesn’t do enough.

ESPN always has a theme with their weekly power rankings and this weeks is the one pleasant surprise for each team.

14. Chicago Bears (1-1)

Week 2 ranking: 13

Pleasant surprise: Are you kidding me? Kicker Eddy Pineiro by a landslide. The Bears spent the entire offseason searching for a kicker, and it turns out, after two games, they might have their guy. Pineiro is a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals on the season, including Sunday’s dramatic 53-yard game winner over the Broncos. The Bears’ biggest offseason question might be solved. Now if only Pineiro could play quarterback. ... -- Jeff Dickerson

The Sporting News has it like this.

19. Chicago Bears, 1-1 (15)

The Bears also can breathe a sigh of relief after surviving the last-minute Mile High craziness against the Broncos. Go figure: Their offense and defense were saved by the kicker this time.

What are your thoughts on the power rankings this week?