NFL Power Rankings: Where do Chicago Bears Rank?
Tuesday has become the day where the NFL Power Rankings get released. Every week during this 2015 NFL season, we at Bear Goggles On are going to take a look at where the Bears sit in these rankings. How do the experts around the league feel about the Chicago Bears? Let’s find out:
Elliot Harrison of NFL.com: 27
"It was a close contest at Soldier Field on Sunday. You have to love the Bears rolling out the 1940s-era throwbacks. Ultimately, the new-look defense in Chicago faltered in the second half, allowing Green Bay to score touchdowns on three of their four full possessions: Aaron Rodgers marched the Packers on TD drives of 59, 78 and 48 yards — with the last one coming off a crushing Jay Cutler pick. Another middling performance from the Chicago QB, in case you only watched eight minutes."
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk: 28
"It’s wasn’t a win, but it also wasn’t a disaster."
"The Chicago Bears are entering a new era in the 2015 season with a new head coach. Aside from the change in the headset, it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing a new Bears team quite this season but there is promise and a foundation."
ESPN: 27
"The Bears have now lost six straight games dating to last season. Only the Buccaneers have a longer active losing streak (7 games)."
Sean Tomlinson of Bleacher Report: 26
"It just doesn’t feel like the NFL season until Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has thrown a hope-erasing interception. Which is what made the Bears’ loss to the division-rival Green Bay Packers so very typical. Cutler’s complete lack of vision finally rose from its temporary slumber late in the fourth quarter. He had led his offense to just shy of the red zone, but then it seemed Packers linebacker Clay Matthews became a ghost.A poorly placed throw went right into Matthews’ waiting mitts. And just as he has so often, Cutler flushed away a fine afternoon from running back Matt Forte, who finished with 166 yards from scrimmage."
Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports: 28
"Matt Forte looked fresh and fast with 166 total yards. As long as he continues to look that good, John Fox will continue to ride him."
Justin Rogers of MLive.com: 27
"Matt Forte will be 30 years old this season, but continues to be one of the most dangerous backfield weapons in the league."
I did not have high expectations for the Bears in these power rankings, but I did think they would show a little bit better than what they did after a relatively impressive performance against a Super Bowl contender. That being said, a Week 1 loss for a team that was not expected to compete this season clearly means low spots in the early power rankings.
Next: Five Takeaways from Bears Week 1 Matchup