Week 16 Power Rankings

ESPN:

13th (+3 from last week)

This team is starting to seem blessed. (KS)


Yahoo Sports:

15th (+2 from last week)

After their Monday night win, they are still alive, and can still win the AFC North if they can pull out a win and get a Vikings loss. If several other teams lose while the Bears win, there is also still a chance at a wild card berth.


Fox Sports:

13th (same as last week)

Welcome to this year's NFL, where a blocked field goal and game-winning kick in Week 16 has kept the Bears alive for a division title with one week left in the season. Give the team credit for rallying from a 14-3 halftime deficit after Chicago had blown several games early in the season. COOL STAT: RB Matt Forte has accounted for an NFL-high 35% percent of his team's total yards from scrimmage this season.


CBS Sportsline:

14th (+2 from last week)

They're alive -- barely. They need to go to Houston and win and then get some help. Their chant for the week: Go Giants!


Sporting News:

14th (+3 from last week)

Alex Brown saved Christmas with his big block on Monday night, and now the gritty Bears would love to get a gift from the Giants—in the form of playing their regulars and playing hard to knock off the Vikings this week. Chicago’s struggling secondary, meanwhile, will need to keep Andre Johnson under wraps.

Week 15 Power Rankings

ESPN:

16 (+3 previously 19)

This is an odd stretch for the Bears. They can be knocked from realistic playoff contention before they get back on the field. (KS)

Yahoo Sports:

17 (+0 previously 17)

By the time they take the field against the Packers on Monday night, will they still have something for which to play?

Fox Sports Rankings:

13 (+4 previously 17)

The Bears are returning to form with three wins in their last four games, though it may be too late. Da Bears have two winnable games remaining, but need some help to sneak into the postseason, which is a shame for all fans of Kyle Orton's hearty neck beard.

Sporting News Rankings:

17 (+1 previously 18)

The Bears have lived and died with the close games. Kyle Orton has played well overall, but he also makes head-scratching mistakes. Matt Forte is a consistent productive presence, but the offense as a whole is inconsistent. The defense usually stuffs the run, but sometimes the pass rush and coverage are nonexistent. Chicago has the classic ups and downs of a 8-6 team that's about to miss the playoffs.

Bears Week 14 Power Rankings

Yahoo Sports:

17. Chicago Bears: Given Minnesota’s remaining schedule, and Gus Frerotte’s back injury, shouldn’t winning the NFC North seem extremely plausible?

previously 17 (+0)

Teams in front of them:

• Atlanta Falcons
• NY Jets
  

ESPN:

19. The Bears will play in a quick turnaround game Thursday night, but it's against a New Orleans team that struggles away from the Superdome. (KS)

previously 19 (+0)

Teams in front of them:

• Washington Redskins
• New Orleans Saints
• Minnesota Vikings
• Denver Broncos

Fox Sports Rankings:

17. Kyle Orton and the Bears got back on track against a finished Jaguars team, but this week poses sort of an elimination game as the Saints come marching in to Soldier Field with both teams hoping to make a late postseason charge.

previously 18 (+1)


Sporting News Rankings:

18. The Soldier Bowl has a nice ring to it. The Bears keep marching on to stay in the NFC playoff hunt, but they need to drum out three more wins to have a real chance.

previously 19 (+1)

Teams in front of them:

• New Orleans Saints
• Philadelphia Eagles