Chicago Bears continue rise in NFL Power Rankings entering Week 11

The Chicago Bears’ turnaround season under head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams continued in Week 10 with their heart-stopping victory over the New York Giants.

Williams put the Bears ahead for good late in the fourth quarter with this dazzling touchdown run:

Now 6-3, the Bears control their own destiny. If the season ended today, Chicago would be in the playoffs as the NFC’s seventh seed.

These aren’t your same old Bears anymore.

It’s a sentiment reflected in NFL Power Rankings across football media, including ESPN’s Week 11 edition.

The Bears jumped three spots from No. 17 to No. 14 thanks to Williams’ heroic effort.

In this week’s iteration, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin highlighted the exceptional play of guard Joe Thuney as a big reason why the Bears are trending in the right direction.

“The back-to-back first-team All-Pro left guard has been a model of consistency for the Bears’ offensive line,” Cronin wrote. “The stability Thuney provides up front allowed for a relatively seamless transition when Chicago switched left tackles in Week 6. It has also led to better protection for quarterback Caleb Williams, who went two games (vs. Cowboys, Giants) without taking a sack and has taken 14 on the season. Thuney is a big reason for that. Through the first eight games, he played every offensive snap (533) while giving up only one quarterback hit and zero sacks.”

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Indeed, the Bears are moving on up. And if they knock off their division foe, the Minnesota Vikings, in Week 11, there’s a chance Chicago could actually crack the top 10 in ESPN’s Week 12 Power Rankings.

As for the rest of the NFC North clubs, the Green Bay Packers fell one spot from No. 11 to No. 12 — yes, the Bears are almost passing up the Packers! — and the Detroit Lions remained even at No. 6. The Minnesota Vikings dropped two spots from No. 18 to No. 20.