After starting 4-2, the Chicago Bears are now 4-5 following a brutal three-game losing streak. It is fair to assume that they are done after what we’ve just seen from them over the last handful of weeks.
Head coach Matt Eberflus somehow still has a job in Chicago and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was made to be the only scapegoat as he was fired on Tuesday. That’s a start but it’s not good enough.
With the Green Bay Packers coming up this week and the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions right after that, the Bears could be looking at 4-8 on the evening of Thanksgiving.
Not many people are giving the Bears a chance anymore and why should they? Chicago has given no sign of life since the Hail Mary gone wrong three weeks ago. In our power ranking, we ranked them 21st. Here’s where other notable outlets ranked the Bears:
Current Ranking: 19
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Author: Eric Edholm
Author’s Take: “Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offensive approach have just not meshed that well so far, leading to the not-so-surprising firing of coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday. Passing game coordinator Thomas Brown is taking over OC duties. The post-bye regression on offense has been ghastly and almost unwatchable at times. On the personnel side, Williams and his pass protection each must share blame for the sacks — 18 over the past three games. The blocking hasn’t been good, and the O-line has been gutted by injury, but Williams is also holding onto the ball way too long, even on plays when he’s not sacked. According to Next Gen Stats, on pass attempts with a time to throw of less than 2.5 seconds, Williams was a respectable 10-of-12 passing for 74 yards against the Patriots. On passes of 2.5 seconds or longer to throw, Williams was 6-of-18 for 46 yards. All five of Williams’ INTs this season have been on throws that were released beyond 2.5 seconds. Sunday’s loss felt deflating for the fanbase, and it damaged Chicago’s fleeting playoff hopes. Up next: A gauntlet of NFC North foes, with the 49ers mixed in. It’s a heck of a time to be breaking in a new offensive play-caller.”
Our Take: It is fair to wonder how the offense is going to look now that Shane Waldron has been fired. Still, keeping the Bears in the top 20 is a bold choice for Edholm. He is being generous to a team that doesn’t deserve it.
Current Ranking: 21
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
Author: Mike Florio
Author’s Take: “It’s going from bad to worse to flat-out hideous for the much-hyped Bears.”
Our Take: Florio is always going to be short, sweet, and to the point. This time, he is incredibly accurate.
Current Ranking: 22
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
Author: Courtney Cronin
Author’s Take: “The 2023 second-team All-Pro cornerback is providing Chicago early returns on the $76 million contract he signed in the 2024 offseason. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Johnson has forced the lowest passer rating (38.0) and lowest completion percentage over expected (minus-17.4%) when targeted this season (minimum 25 targets). He leads the team with two interceptions and is second in tackles for loss (4).”
Our Take: ESPN’s theme with their power ranking this week is non-QB MVPs on each team. For the Chicago Bears, Cronin chose Jaylon Johnson. That’s a wise pick. It’s also a pick that shows that nobody on the offense has done enough to even come close to consideration which is why they are terrible.
Current Ranking: 23
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Author: Nate Davis
Author’s Take: “Taken down 15 times the past two weeks, rookie QB Caleb Williams has now been sacked a league-high 38. (Memo to next OC: Give. Swift. The. Ball.)”
Our Take: The Bears have not done right by their new franchise QB Caleb Williams. Davis considered that when making his power rankings.
Current Ranking: 23
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
Author: Josh Kendall
Author’s Take: “Is it too early for Bears fans to panic about Caleb Williams? No, probably not. This year’s top pick has three straight games with a negative EPA, and he’s 33rd in that category for the season (minus-.13). He hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 6. His completion percentage (60.5) ranks 32nd. His sack percentage (11.4) is 33rd and a sign that not only is Chicago’s offensive line not as good as expected but that Williams is taking too long to get the ball out of his hands. Things are not good.”
Our Take: The Bears are one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to doing anything the right way. That is why it is time to panic about Caleb Williams. They are ruining him and everyone is scared to say it because it’s horrifying.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL power rankings roundup: Where the Bears rank in Week 11
