ESPN’s latest NFL Power Rankings leave Bears fans with questions after Week 15

The Chicago Bears enjoyed their most lopsided victory of the 2025 season in Week 15 over the Cleveland Browns, 31-3.

The game was never close, which validated the Bears’ standing as a legitimate playoff team in the NFC. Indeed, the Browns are one of the worst teams in the NFL. But if the Bears were nothing more than fool’s gold, the game should’ve been more competitive.

It wasn’t. The Bears dominated the way you’d expect a superior team to. Chicago looked like a squad destined for the playoffs; they treated the Browns as a speed bump on the way to January football.

Yet, the Bears’ win failed to move the needle — at all — in ESPN’s Week 16 NFL Power Rankings.

MORE: Bears’ top PFF grades revealed on offense and defense in Week 15 vs. Browns

Chicago entered the Browns’ game ranked 10th. They’re still ranked 10th.

So much for that 28-point win.

Kevin Byard dubbed Bears’ top extension candidate

Kevin Byard has been a big reason why the Chicago Bears are a top-10 team, and ESPN dubbed him the Bears’ top candidate to receive a contract extension this offseason.

“The Bears don’t have any safeties under contract for 2026, so maintaining stability in the secondary should be a priority this offseason,” Cronin wrote. “In the final year of his two-year deal with Chicago, Byard has a league-leading six interceptions and seven passes defensed. Though he’s on the older end for extension-eligible safeties at 32, he has never missed a game because of injury and has shown little to no regression. “He’s playing at a really high level on that back end, picking up a new scheme, and he’s really leading the charge, not just for the defense, but the entire team,” coach Ben Johnson said.”

The Bears have a huge opportunity to skyrocket up ESPN’s power rankings in Week 16. Chicago will square off against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, and if they pull off a victory, it could solidify their standing as a top-five squad.

As for the rest of the NFC North, the Packers fell from No. 5 in ESPN’s power rankings to No. 9 after their loss to the Denver Broncos. The Detroit Lions dropped from No. 11 to No. 12 after losing to the Los Angeles Rams, and the Minnesota Vikings jumped one spot from No. 23 to No. 22 after upending the Dallas Cowboys.