Here are the Week Eight Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:
Analysis, There’s no defense in the league right now that makes life more consistently miserable for its opponents.”
Sports Illustrated: #5 (Last week: #6)
Analysis, “Funny how everybody seems to get sloppy with the football when they’re facing the Bears. Chicago’s defense has that crazy takeaway spree thing going again this season, and that can carry a team a long way. Remember back in 2001, when Dick Jauron’s Bears had a surprise 13-3 season, largely on the strength of a turnover-creating defensive unit? Chicago free safety Mike Brown had about 47 takeaways and 23 touchdown returns that season. Or is that just the way it seems through the haze of memory?”
CBS Sports: #2 (Last week: #3)
Analysis, “With that defense, they don’t need to score all that much. Eventually, they will. But the top-scoring defense is truly impressive so far.”
Fox Sports: #3 (Last week: #4)
Analysis, “Another stellar defensive performance for the Bears, highlighted by three fumble recoveries and an interception. On the drive that ended with a fumble by Mikel Leshoure, Charles Tillman already had forced two other fumbles, but luckily for the Lions, the ball rolled out of bounds on each. That is a ball-hawking defense.”
Analysis, “The Chicago Bears are nipping at Houston’s heels for the No. 2 spot. When you consider that theBears‘ only loss was at Lambeau in Week 2, you get a feel for how good this team might be. I wonder who picked Bears over Texans in the Super Bowl.”
Pro Football Talk: #3 (Last week: #4)
Analysis, “A week after Cam Newton broke out the term “sweetheart,” the Bears could be calling him slightly stronger names.”
Pro Football Weekly: #4 (Last week: #4)
Analysis, “Cutler, defense showed toughness in solid win on national stage.”
Analysis, “The Bears defense can carry the team into the playoffs if Jay Cutler continues to protect the football. The Bears have outscored their opponents by a total of 84 points this season and are allowing an average of just 13 points per game on defense.”
Best ranking: CBS Sports (#2)
Worst ranking: WEEI.com (#6)
Thoughts on this week’s power rankings?
Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.
