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Week 12 NFL Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

22nd November 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week 12 Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Site

This Week/Last Week

Analysis
ESPN 7 (5) Jay Cutler’s broken thumb could break the Bears’ wild-card chances.
Fox Sports 7 (7) Losing QB Jay Cutler is disheartening, but similar to the Texans this team is equipped to possibly overcome it. RB Matt Forte has the ability to carry this offense and the defense has been dominant after shuffling their back half by starting Major Wright and Chris Conte. The road to the playoffs just got a lot steeper, but its not time to turn your heads just yet.
CBS Sports 8 (9) Without Cutler, they have major issues. Their season suddenly took a huge turn for the worse with one thumb injury.
Pro Football Weekly 8 (9) Cutler injury drastically changes team’s postseason hopes.
Pro Football Talk 7 (8) The Caleb Hanie era begins.  Don’t blink.
WEEI.com 8 (6) Jay Cutler‘s injury hurts the Bears in so many ways. This is a team that has lost just one game since October. The Bears have improved dramatically. The offensive line was preventing sacks and opening holes for Matt Forte, while Cutler was finally protecting the football. Now the playoff hopes of Bears fans are in the hands of Caleb Hanie. It’s tough to like their chances of getting one of the two wild card spots in the NFC with the Lions, Falcons, Giants and Cowboys all fighting as well
Walter Football 10 (8) Like the Texans, I’m dropping the Bears because of the quarterback injury, but unlike the Texans, I’m not removing them from the top 10 because I have some faith in their backup.

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week 11 NFL Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

15th November 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week 11 Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Site This Week/Last Week Analysis
ESPN 5 (9) Whenever Devin Hester returns a kick for a score, this team is basically unbeatable.
Fox Sports 7 (12) The Bears made it clear on Sunday they don’t wait for turnovers, but rather create them. Going into the game, the Lions had the fewest turnovers in the league (5), and then the Bears forced six takeaways and added an 82-yard punt return for a TD. This defense has found its identity again, and will earn a wild-card spot because of it.
NFL.com 8 (13) Last week, some guy wrote on NFL.com that the Bears would not only handle the Lions, but go 11-5 and be serious contenders in the NFC. I’m not sure who that dude is, as I’m not too familiar with his work or his overly coiffed hair, but man the prognostication in that article was spot on.
CBS Sports 9 (14) Looking at their schedule, it’s hard to imagine them not being in the playoffs. They’ve had a good month.
Pro Football Weekly 9 (14) NFC wild-card favorites make statement, get revenge win over Lions.
Pro Football Talk 8 (12) Just like last year, they’re getting better on the fly.  Unlike last year, they’re looking up at the Packers.
WEEI 6 (10) Behind a physical defense, a strong offensive line, a dynamic running back, and a quarterback who has limited his mistakes, the Bears have won four straight games. The offensive line and Jay Cutler have improved tremendously over that time. Cutler has thrown just six picks all year. Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith are the only, every-game starting quarterbacks who have thrown fewer interceptions.
Walter Football 8 (10)  

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week 10 NFL Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

8th November 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week 10 Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Site This Week/Last Week Analysis
ESPN 9 (10) The Bears proved in beating Philadelphia they are in the playoff race until the end.
NFL.com 13 (14) Roy Williams might not be clutch but at least he smiles out there. Earl Bennett is, with four of his five catches resulting in first downs, and another resulting in six points. If you mention the Bears’ offensive line struggles incessantly in pre-game, and on a broadcast, does that mean things play out that way? No. The much-maligned unit didn’t allow a sack.
Yahoo Sports 12 (15) Lovie Smith does know that oddsmakers set lines as a means of stimulating betting on both sides, and not as a judgment of a team’s actual worth, RIGHT?
Sports Illustrated 12 (17) It has been a pretty good four weeks for Lovie Smith’s team, which is 3-0 with a bye over the course of the past month. If the playoffs started today (and it would mess up the entire NFL schedule if they did) the Bears would be the NFC’s second wild-card team, and they own tiebreakers over the Falcons, Bucs and Eagles, all of whom they beat head to head. And even better, if Chicago can knock off Detroit this week at home, the Bears will pull into a second-place tie behind Green Bay in the NFC North.
Fox Sports 12 (14) If you can’t get to Jay Cutler in the pocket, then he is going to rip you apart with his accurate and strong down-field throws. Monday night was just Cutler’s second game without being sacked, and this offensive line is finally playing up to par. Even still, this offense must start with RB Matt Forte, and he isn’t going to put the ball on the ground twice in one game very often, if ever
CBS Sports 14 (16) They really have things going their way now. That will be a huge game this week with the Lions.
Sporting News 13 (16) A funny thing happened in Philadelphia: His dandy Vandy receiver, Earl Bennett returned, and Cutler got great protection from his line. Now let’s see some consistency.
Pro Football Talk 12 (13) Maybe Matt Forte’s two fumbles will take some steam out of his campaign for a contract.
Pro Football Weekly 14 (15) Safety position squarely under the microscope going forward.
Walter Football 10 (12)  

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Bears.

 

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Week Nine NFL Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

1st November 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week Nine Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Site This Week/Last Week Analysis
ESPN 10 (10) The Bears had a quiet bye week, and no one criticized the offensive play calling.
NFL.com 14 (14) This organization is taking some heat for the Matt Forte non-renegotiation, or whatever you want to call it, and deservedly so. Forte’s worst game of 2011: 82 yards from scrimmage. That’s better than all but one of Chris Johnson’s seven games of 2011. CJ2K makes roughly $9 million per year. Forte? $600,000 this year. Great if you’re like most of us working stiffs. Not so much if you’re one of the best backs in pro football with a limited career life span.
Sports Illustrated 17 (15) OK, Bears fans, here’s how your club has to navigate its final nine games to make the playoffs: The Bears win out in their remaining four home games, which gets them to eight victories, and then take care of business in their two most winnable road games, at Denver and Minnesota. That would equal 10-6, and then it would be a matter of whether Chicago would win a potential tiebreaker with Detroit or some other wild-card contender.
Yahoo Sports 15 (15) If Gabe (The Bear Jew) Carimi returns to the starting lineup, will I be able to talk my wife into letting me watch “Inglourious Basterds” in bed for the 12th time?
Fox Sports 14 (14) The Bears have cracked the code again and realize they can be pretty good if they run the ball and keep Cutler to 30-35 throws. The Eagles will test this winning formula by turning the game into a track meet, and if Michael Vick can open up the offense against the Bears’ zone defense, it could be a very long day for head coach Lovie Smith.
CBS Sports 16 (16) Their two victories before the bye have them talking playoffs again. Matt Forte is the biggest reason why.
Sporting News 16 (14) Let’s hope Forte used the bye week to rest up well, because his workload as the league’s premier all-purpose back won’t ease up against the Eagles, Lions and Chargers.
WEEI

 

 12 (12) Fresh off the bye week, the Bears will get back to work against the red-hot Eagles. The Bears need to build off the momentum they’ve gained over the last month. Solid play from Matt Forte and the offensive line have put the Bears back in the race in the NFC.
Pro Football Talk 13 (14) Matt Forte is still waiting for the phone and/or cash register to ring.
Pro Football Weekly 15 (15) With Chris Harris gone, youth movement in full effect at safety.
Walter Football 12 (13)  

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.

 

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Week Eight NFL Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

25th October 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week Eight Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Site This Week/Last Week Analysis
ESPN 10 (14) By beating the Bucs in London, the Bears ensured they will be in the playoff hunt until the end.
NFL.com 14 (16) NFL Network insider Jason LaCanfora mentioned on “NFL Fantasy Live” on Sunday that some unrest exists in the locker room, with the major point of contention residing in Jerry Angelo’s financial decisions. Some league observers, like several players, can’t wrap their heads around not paying Matt Forte, who is pretty much the offense right now. Forte is on pace for, oh, about 3,000 yards from scrimmage this year.
SI.com 15 (18) The Bears have done well for themselves in squeezing a 4-3 record out of their first seven games. They’ve lost to three quality teams in Green Bay, New Orleans and Detroit, beaten a couple decent clubs in Atlanta and Tampa Bay, and taken care of business at home against the likes of losers Carolina and Minnesota. But their post-bye November slate is challenging: at Philadelphia, home against Detroit and San Diego, and at Oakland. That’s probably a 1-3 skid coming, but I’ve been surprised by the Bears more times than I’ve been right.
Yahoo Sports 15 (16) When Matt Forte finally gets paid, should he give Brian Urlacher an agent fee?
Fox Sports 14 (16) I don’t understand why it always takes the Bears a little while at the beginning of the season to crack the code. But once again, they are beginning to show signs of the balance that is their winning formula. If the takeaways continue to pile up like they did vs Tampa Bay, the Bears could make a run akin to last year.
CBS Sports 16 (19) The Bears have won consecutive games to turn their season around heading to their bye week. Simplifying the offense seems to have worked.
Sporting News 14 (19) There are several speedsters in Mike Martz’s offense, but you can bet Jay Cutler likes to have this athletic option near the goal line.
WEEI.com

 

 12 (15) We knock them when they play bad, so we have to give credit when there is improvement. The Bears offensive line surrendered 14 sacks in three games in the month of September. In October, it’s been a different story. Jay Cutler has been sacked just seven times in four games. On top of that,Matt Forte is second in rushing yards only to Adrian Peterson. The starting running back is averaging 6.2 yards-per-carry in the month of October and some of that performance has to be credited to the offensive line.
Pro Football Weekly 15 (18) In a big game across the pond, Forté continues to prove his worth.
Pro Football Talk 14 (14) Even some Brits were overheard saying, “Pay the bloke.”
Walter Football 13 (16)  

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week Eight NFL Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

25th October 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week Eight Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Site This Week/Last Week Analysis
ESPN 10 (14) By beating the Bucs in London, the Bears ensured they will be in the playoff hunt until the end.
NFL.com 14 (16) NFL Network insider Jason LaCanfora mentioned on “NFL Fantasy Live” on Sunday that some unrest exists in the locker room, with the major point of contention residing in Jerry Angelo’s financial decisions. Some league observers, like several players, can’t wrap their heads around not paying Matt Forte, who is pretty much the offense right now. Forte is on pace for, oh, about 3,000 yards from scrimmage this year.
SI.com 15 (18) The Bears have done well for themselves in squeezing a 4-3 record out of their first seven games. They’ve lost to three quality teams in Green Bay, New Orleans and Detroit, beaten a couple decent clubs in Atlanta and Tampa Bay, and taken care of business at home against the likes of losers Carolina and Minnesota. But their post-bye November slate is challenging: at Philadelphia, home against Detroit and San Diego, and at Oakland. That’s probably a 1-3 skid coming, but I’ve been surprised by the Bears more times than I’ve been right.
Yahoo Sports 15 (16) When Matt Forte finally gets paid, should he give Brian Urlacher an agent fee?
Fox Sports 14 (16) I don’t understand why it always takes the Bears a little while at the beginning of the season to crack the code. But once again, they are beginning to show signs of the balance that is their winning formula. If the takeaways continue to pile up like they did vs Tampa Bay, the Bears could make a run akin to last year.
CBS Sports 16 (19) The Bears have won consecutive games to turn their season around heading to their bye week. Simplifying the offense seems to have worked.
Sporting News 14 (19) There are several speedsters in Mike Martz’s offense, but you can bet Jay Cutler likes to have this athletic option near the goal line.
WEEI.com

 

 12 (15) We knock them when they play bad, so we have to give credit when there is improvement. The Bears offensive line surrendered 14 sacks in three games in the month of September. In October, it’s been a different story. Jay Cutler has been sacked just seven times in four games. On top of that,Matt Forte is second in rushing yards only to Adrian Peterson. The starting running back is averaging 6.2 yards-per-carry in the month of October and some of that performance has to be credited to the offensive line.
Pro Football Weekly 15 (18) In a big game across the pond, Forté continues to prove his worth.
Pro Football Talk 14 (14) Even some Brits were overheard saying, “Pay the bloke.”
Walter Football 13 (16)  

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week Seven NFL Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

18th October 2011 by under Power Rankings     


Here are the Week Seven Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

Site This Week Last Week Analysis
ESPN 14 18 Wonder how the London tabloids will treat Jay Cutler, who struggles with the local papers in Chicago.
NFL.com 16 18 Where would George Halas’ boys be without Matt Forte? There are few guys who offer the versatility that Forte does.
Yahoo Sports 16 17 How fortunate is the 52-year-old man who allegedly slapped Devin Hester at an Illinois casino Friday night that he didn’t pull the same stunt on Jim Schwartz?
Sports Illustrated 18 19 Speaking of coaches who might be in trouble, I get the feeling things aren’t going to end well for Mike Martz in Chicago. The Bears’ accomplished offensive coordinator and quarterback Jay Cutler just may not be a fit, and they seem to have different ideas of what will and won’t work in Chicago’s offense when it comes to play-calling and pass protection schemes. It is, as they say, a developing story.
Fox Sports 16 17 QB Jay Cutler proved just how lethal he can be in the pocket when the pocket actually holds up against the rush. He was only sacked one time in 31 passing attempts on Sunday, and it showed up in his productivity.
CBS Sports 19 19 They made changes to their offensive scheme and Jay Cutler gets sacked once. You think it mattered? Of course it did.
Sporting News 18 18 Look, we know Mike Martz loves to call a pass-happy game, but the production doesn’t add up with the volume, so he must keep pounding away with Matt Forte.
Pro Football Weekly 18 20 A completely different team in Week Six than we saw vs. the Lions.
Pro Football Talk 14 17 Lovie Smith should shake things up like that every week.
WEEI.com 15 16 There is still a lot of work to do if the Bears want to make the playoffs. Their blow-out victory over the one-win Vikings should help them build momentum.

 

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week Six Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

11th October 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week Six Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

ESPN: #18 (Last week: #18)

Analysis, “The false starts and missed blocks are getting Jay Cutler destroyed.”

Sports Illustrated: #19 (Last week: #17)

Analysis,”Jay Cutler’s wish list for Christmas: “Dear Santa, I’d like to be able to set my feet and step into a pass just once this season. Just once.” But for that to come true, you’d have to suspend a lot of disbelief. Not in Santa, mind you. Just the Bears offensive line.”

Yahoo Sports: #14 (Last week: #14)

Analysis, If Matt Forte can’t get a new contract from the Bears, can he at least score a Playaz Club invite from his rappin’ namesake?

NFL.com: #18 (Last week: #13)

Analysis, “I started to write this blurb about the Bears, and then my hand jumped offsides. The offensive line was terrible Monday night in Detroit. But at least the safeties made up for it by taking bad angles. It would have been nice to see more draws and screens — anything to slow down that pass rush of the Lions. The only things keeping the Bears over the Bengals in these rankings is Jay Cutler, and the fact that Chicago’s three losses came against the Saints, Packers, and Lions, who are a combined 13-2.”

Fox Sports: #17 (Last week: #15)

Analysis, “The Bears played well in Monday night’s loss to the Lions, and RB Matt Forte putting up 116 yards over 22 carries is very much worth noting. The Lions have a fearsome front seven, and it bodes well for the Bears, who should continue to utilize their best player in Forte. Not sure why he hasn’t been given the long-term contract he deserves.”

CBS Sports: #18 (Last week: #19)

Analysis, “They have a defense that is a sieve and an offensive line that can’t protect Jay Cutler. Hard to believe this was a division champ in 2010.”

Sporting News: #18 (Last week: #18)

Analysis, “Look, we know Mike Martz loves to call a pass-happy game, but the production doesn’t add up with the volume, so he must keep pounding away with Matt Forte.”

Pro Football Talk: #17 (Last week: #13)

Analysis, “Lovie Smith’s seat gradually is getting warmer.”

WEEI.com: #16 (Last week: #15)

Analysis, “Watching a Bears game is like listening to a broken record. More times than not, you’ll see Jay Cutler under siege, the offensive line struggling, and a countless number of yellow flags. Nine false start penalties is inexcusable at any level of football. The Bears are losing ground quickly in the NFC North.”

Walter Football: #19 (Last week: #17)

Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. He is also the Chicago Bears writer for NFLTouchdown.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker for up to the minute news about the Bears.

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Week Five Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

4th October 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week Five Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

ESPN: #18 (Last week: #18)

Analysis, “Mike Martz is running “ground and pound,” and the Jets are throwing the ball. Imagine.”

NFL: #13 (Last week: #16)

Analysis, “Matt Forte hung a 205-spot in the rushing column, but the real story was that offensive coordinator Mike Martz got the memo and gift-wrapped his back 25 carries against the Panthers. In fact, the Bears’ run-pass ratio was 31 to 17. Someone should’ve taken Martz’s temperature after the game to make sure he was feeling okay. That’s not like him.”

Yahoo Sports: #14 (Last week: #14)

Analysis, “Did Mike Martz counterintuitively decide to ram the ball down the Panthers’ throats last Sunday – or did Lovie Smith ram that game plan down his throat?”

Sports Illustrated: #17 (Last week: #17)

Analysis, “The Bears at least woke up and conceded that playing Roy Williams ahead of Johnny Knox made no sense to anyone outside of the Martz family. Chicago also got wise and decided to exhaust Matt Forte in the pursuit of victory, rather than, say, Jay Cutler. It’s ironic, but that’s forward thinking for the Bears, to forego so much forward passing.”

Fox Sports: #15 (Last week: #18)

Analysis, “Jay Cutler didn’t throw a pass until two minutes into the second quarter, and Matt Forte had 200 yards on the ground. Cutler should have been better with play action given the way they were running, but the protection just wasn’t there. It doesn’t get an easier this week against a solid Lions defense.”

CBS Sports: #18 (Last week: #20)

Analysis, “They got Matt Forte going, which they needed to do. Now comes a big test against the undefeated Lions on the road Monday night.”

Pro Football Talk: #13 (Last week: #15)

Analysis, “If Matt Forte runs for 205 yards with his contract supposedly serving as a distraction, the Bears should keep him that distracted every week.”

Walter Football: #17 (Last week: #15)

WEEI.com: #15 (Last week: #16)

Analysis, “We saw a change of offensive philosophy from Mike Martz’s offense on Sunday.Jay Cutler’s 17 pass attempts were dramatically lower than any other game he’s played this year. In Week 4, the Bears relied on Matt Forte and it paid off in a tremendous way. Forte averaged 8.2 yards per carry. Limiting the amount of times Cutler can get sacked or throw an interception while pounding the ball with Forte seems like the recipe for success offensively for the Bears.”

For Bears news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

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Week Four Power Rankings, Chicago Bears Edition

27th September 2011 by under Power Rankings     

Here are the Week Four Bears power rankings from various sites around the web:

ESPN: #18 (Last week: #10)

Analysis, “So much for the move to have the Bears run the ball more.”

NFL: #16 (Last week: #10)

Analysis, “How do we feel about those orange jerseys? More importantly, how do we feel about Jay Cutler throwing without his feet set, or off his back foot, or inaccurately? You can’t blame all of Cutler’s imperfections on the offensive line and suspect pass protection. After offensive coordinator Mike Martz fell on the sword for having such a poor run-pass ratio last week, he came back with a 40-pass, nine-run masterpiece vs. the Packers. Mike Martz is who we thought he was.”

Yahoo Sports: #14 (Last week: #9)

Analysis, “After Corey Graham ruined one of the greatest trick plays in NFL history, how tough was it for special teams coach Dave Toub to avoid giving him a tug and a shove?”

SI.com: #17 (Last week: #10)

Analysis, On my camp visit to the Bears, always-confident Chicago offensive coordinator Mike Martz assured me Roy Williams would be in line to catch 80-85 passes for 1,300 yards or so this year in his offense. With only four receptions for 55 yards in the first three games, all in the Bears’ opener, Williams needs to average about six catches and 96 yards per game from here on out to make Martz look prescient. And just imagine if Chicago actually had tried to run the ball the past two weeks instead of throwing it 80 percent of the time.”

Fox Sports: #18 (Last week: #12)

Analysis, “This was a 17-10 game at the half, yet Matt Forte still only had nine carries on the day. It is not all Jay Cutler’s fault, but going 1-5 against the Packers will make Chicagoans anxious.”

CBS Sports: #20 (Last week: #15)

Analysis, “Many of you pegged this as the step-back team in 2011. You just might be right.”

National Football Post: #15 (Last week: #10)

Analysis, “The Bears were outplayed by the Pack at home and Mike Martz needs to make some corrections in a hurry.”

WEEI.com: #16 (Last week: #11)

Analysis, “The defending NFC North champs are already two games behind first place. It comes as no surprise that no quarterback has been sacked more than Jay Cutler this year (14 times). Regardless of what GM Jerry Angelo says, this offensive line has not improved. As a result, the Bears will struggle week after week.”

Pro Football Talk: #15 (Last week: #12)

Analysis, “Losing by 10 points to the Packers still wasn’t as ugly as those orange alternative jerseys the Bears wear.”

Walter Football: #15 (Last week: #7)

For Bears news on Twitter, follow @Bearsbacker.

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