Bears Week 3 power rankings roundup: Chicago takes a nose dive
After another rough week, the Chicago Bears have lost 12 games in a row, dating back to last season. Sunday will mark 11 months (Oct. 24, 2022) since they’ve last won a meaningful football game.
With the Bears losing 27-17 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fans are losing faith in this football team rapidly. A game against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are one of the best teams in football, won’t be an easy task for an 0-2 Chicago team with no offensive identity and a porous defense.
As you can imagine, the Bears have taken a nose dive in the power rankings in Week 3. But are they the worst team after two games? Let’s take a look:
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 29th
Last Week’s Ranking: 29th
Author: Eric Edholm
Author’s take:
That’s now 12 straight losses for the Bears, if you’re scoring at home, and 16 losses in their 19 games with Matt Eberflus and Justin Fields together. The coach and quarterback are certainly not the only issues with this team — anyone being honest should realize this. The Bears expected to be better this season, but there’s no clear evidence of that yet. They’ve allowed the second-most points and are near the bottom of the passing-efficiency metrics (6.5 yards per attempt, three INTs, sack rate of 13.2%). It’s Year 2 for Eberflus and Year 3 for Fields. They can turn things around. But will they?
Our take:
So far, the Matt Eberflus era has been worse than Years 2-4 of the Matt Nagy era and Year 2 of the Marc Trestman era combined. Only three wins and closing in on 11 months without a regular season win is bad football. Chicago has had some awful teams over the years, but this team is record-breaking bad.
ESPN
Current Ranking: 30th
Last Week’s Ranking: 29th
Author: Courtney Cronin
Author’s take:
Bears general manager Ryan Poles expressed a desire to keep the 2020 second-round pick “long term,” and it’s evident for a defense predicated on takeaways that Chicago’s brass wants to see the cornerback increase the number of interceptions and turnovers he generates before agreeing to an extension. Johnson has one career interception, which propelled him this offseason to focus his efforts on different ways to create more takeaways so he can show his impact beyond being a physical lockdown outside cornerback.
Our take:
Defensively, there were some bright spots last week. Jaylon Johnson played well and has continued to prove why he deserves to stay in Chicago for the long term.
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 30th
Last Week’s Ranking: 30th
Author: Pete Prisco
Author’s take:
So much for the idea that this offense would make big strides. That pick-six thrown by Justin Fields against the Bucs was terrible.
Our take:
There are many question marks surrounding Justin Fields. Does he not trust himself? Does Luke Getsy not trust him? Is this offense purposely being built toward his weaknesses? One of two things is happening – he is being sabotaged by play-calling or he has regressed poorly.
USA Today
Current Ranking: 31st
Last Week’s Ranking: 27th
Author: Nate Davis
Author’s take:
A team that led the league in rushing in 2022 suddenly isn’t very good on the ground. Chicago’s defense (1 sack, no takeaways)? Also putrid. None of that would be as worrisome if QB Justin Fields didn’t look so lost.
Our take:
The rushing game is lost in Chicago. It’s understandable to want to keep your “franchise” quarterback safe, but he needs to be used to his strengths. It’s only two games into the season, so things can change – but the first two games have been worrisome.
Bears Wire
Current Ranking: 32nd
Last Week’s Ranking: 28th
Author: Brendan Sugrue
Author’s take:
The Bears have no redeeming qualities through two games of the season. This has been a disastrous start for a team who should have been improved after last year.
Our take:
This offense is bad, but they’re still ahead of schedule than they were last season, in the passing game that is. That isn’t much to be proud of though, as Justin Fields was on pace to have 8.5 touchdowns and 2,000 yards passing in 17 starts after four games in 2022. It’s still a regression from where they finished the season. It’s all-around bad in Chicago.
