Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Chicago Bears Week 5 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 5 roundup for the Chicago Bears in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 32

Biggest issue on defense: Rushing the passer

The Bears have two sacks in four games and have pressured opposing quarterbacks on 22% of dropbacks, which ranks 32nd. Chicago's defense is slightly more aggressive and opportunistic in generating pressure after coach Matt Eberflus assumed defensive playcalling duties in Week 2, but it hasn't resulted in increased production. Eberflus said the Bears would have to start sending five or six rushers if they struggle to get pressure with their four defensive linemen, and while Chicago did see an uptick in blitzes against Denver (27.6%), that strategy was one the Broncos were able to adjust to in the second half. The Bears' D-line has six new players from a year ago, yet the upgrade in talent has not improved the team's ability to get to the quarterback. -- Courtney Cronin

NFL.com -- Rank: 32

While I was sharpening my sardonic swords for whomever (the Bears or Broncos) ended up in this space, delivering any Bears barbs now would feel like piling on during what's become a nightmare season. Blowing a 21-point lead to Denver hurts, but the suffering is becoming numbing. Unless you're Matt Eberflus, who is feeling heat while presiding over a franchise-record losing streak. If there was a silver lining, it was that Justin Fields really had the kind of game (335 yards and four TDs passing) everyone in Chicago was hoping for this season, save for the two late turnovers. DJ Moore logging his best effort of the season helped, but it came on a day the Bears told fellow WR Chase Claypool to stay home. And they lost to a Broncos defense that has been steamrolled by others. But at least Fields showed something.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 32

They blew a big lead to lose to the Broncos. But at least Justin Fields played well for most of the game. That's a good sign.

USA Today -- Rank: 32

They extended their franchise-worst 14-game losing streak with a 21-point collapse that matched the worst in the club's 104 seasons. Thursday at Washington is the first of Chicago's four scheduled prime-time games. Guessing they're not gonna keep all those fancy dates.

The Athletic -- Rank: 32

It's fitting that the league's most chaotic team is the Power Rankings caboose on Chaos Week. In the first half, Justin Fields set a Bears franchise record with 16 straight completions. In the second half, his fumble on a sack was returned 31 yards for the game-tying touchdown and then he threw an interception on Chicago's last-gasp drive. Wide receiver Chase Claypool didn't even come to the game at the team's request, and the Bears became the first team in NFL history to allow 25 or more points in 14 straight games.

FOX -- Rank: 32

It looked like a picture-perfect afternoon, right up until it went up in smoke. Honestly, what's more impressive: that the Bears had built up a 28-7 lead later in the third quarter, or that they let it slip away in just 19 minutes of gameplay? An embarrassing collapse that every piece of this bad team had a hand in.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 32

During the Bears' team record 14-game losing streak, they have given up at least 25 points in every game. Matt Eberflus was a defensive coordinator before he was hired by the Bears to be their head coach. There's no good reason to keep Eberflus around anymore. And there's really no reason for general manager Ryan Poles to get a third season either.

PFT -- Rank: 32

Northwestern might be better at this point.

Previous updates:

More Chicago Bears pages:

Check out more of our content:

Keep track of our site's updates: (1) follow us on Twitter, (2) like us on Facebook and/or (3) subscribe to our newsletter.

Posted by at
Labels: ,