The Chicago Bears are less than a week away from the start of the 2025 season, with all the power rankings and season predictions starting to pour in. While people like Chicago are improving this year, it isn't looking great compared to other teams.
FanSided's Sayre Bedinger shared his first NFL power rankings of Week 1 on NFL Spin Zone. The Bears will be starting the season as the 19th-ranked team in the NFL.
"This is as high as I want to go with the Chicago Bears right now. I was buying the moves they made last year on paper, and I’m buying them again this year, but I was way too ready to send the Bears to the playoffs. Caleb Williams has a lot to prove as a starting QB in the NFL going into his second season. Can he hit layups consistently? How long before we see him meshing well with head coach Ben Johnson? I felt like the Bears got the best head coach prospect on the market this offseason, and if that offense can be cohesive early, this Bears team is going to be tough in the NFC North."
Can the Bears finally live up to the expectations?
Chicago had the same buzz with the great moves made last year, and that did not turn out well for the team after a 5-12 season. Everyone in the media is trying to tame the expectations a lot more to start the 2025 campaign.
Johnson's approach to building the right culture and play calling on offense has made a significant difference to this team. Former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus did not display the type of discipline this franchise has been needing over the last three years.
Rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III give Williams a great foundation for the future of Chicago, with DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, and D'Andre Swift also there. They might have been the last-ranked offense in 2024, but with a creative offensive playbook and more weapons, this team should see improvement.
Not overcelebrating the Bears for their offseason is the best approach for everyone, but don't sleep on the Bears. They are healthier on defense, and the offense only got better with more weapons and the offensive line retooled.
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Watch out for the Bears improving and should slowly see themselves rising in the power rankings as the season rolls on.