Even in bye week, Bears lose ground in power rankings

The news wasn’t all bad for the Bears this week.

Granted, the team fell into sole possession of last place in the NFC North with the Vikings’ victory over the Redskins.

But instead of being on the defensive (something the Bears have rarely excelled at on the field this season), the Bears have been the beneficiary of Joe Maddon’s big move to the Cubs. There’s also Derrick Rose’s absence, the Blackhawks’ struggles and an election, to boot.

The best news for the Bears right now is no news.

They quietly fell in several power rankings this week and, I think, have nearly bottomed out with an aggregate ranking of 23.5. They are now behind the Vikings in all but two of our six national rankings. The Bears lost ground in four of the six rankings, gained in one and were static in another.

Let’s take a look:

CBS Sports

Bears rank: 24

Last week: 23

Comment: They come off their bye with a must-win game at Green Bay. If they lose is Marc Trestman in trouble?

ESPN

Bears rank: 21

Last week: 23

Comment: Jay Cutler has never won in Green Bay. Not only is he 0-3 against the Packers on the road, but he has never posted a QBR above 13.2 in those games.

FOX Sports

Bears rank: 25

Last week: 24

Comment: The Bears needed a bye week more than any other team in the NFL, and the hope is that they will use it to get everyone to buy back into the team message going forward.

NBC Sports

Bears rank: 24

Last week: 22

Comment: The Bears want to know if their new sod comes with a free side of competent quarterback.

NFL.com

Bears rank: 25

Last week: 24

Comment: It was a bye week in Chicago, meaning either a) too many days to reflect on where the Bears’ defense learned to suck this bad (watching the Cubs?) or b) an outstanding opportunity to right the ship schematically and motivationally. By the way, the tiny drop was necessary to reward the Rams’ huge upset. That team is trending in a different direction than this one, at least over the past few weeks.

Yahoo!

Bears rank: 22

Last week: 22

Comment: They play at Green Bay on Sunday night. That’s the kind of win that could turn the Bears’ season back around. But, are they capable of winning there?