NFL Power Rankings Week 15: Bears' season has officially bottomed out

A day may come when fans of the Chicago Bears can spend December eagerly looking ahead to playoff seeding instead of draft positioning, but it is not this day. This day, the Bears are riding a seven-game losing streak and just got blown out of what looks to be the last winnable game on their schedule. That exciting win over Jacksonville in London back in Week 6, Chicago's third straight victory and one that appeared to be a sign of things to come, may very well have been Chicago's last win of the season. For a franchise as storied as the Chicago Bears, this season has been a tragic fall from expectations.

That's why they find themselves at the bottom of this week's power rankings. They're bad, they've already fired their head coach, and they're trapped in the NFC North, where every other team has at least nine wins and a legitimate claim to the status of 'Super Bowl contender.' Chicago's only hope to compete in this land of giants is that they might finally hire the right head coach this offseason, that they might finally put together a quality staff that can develop Caleb Williams into the superstar he seems destined to become so he can lead the Bears back to the Promised Land.

But hope for the future must wait. For now, let's get into the rankings.

1. Detroit Lions (Last week: 3)

After a short-lived drop from the top spot, the Lions are back. They beat Green Bay in classic Dan Campbell fashion on Thursday night, with an aggressive call on 4th down that set up the game-winning field goal.

2. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 1)

Josh Allen is an alien. Despite losing a shootout to the white-hot LA Rams by two points, Allen proved that he is one of the front-runners to be the 2024 MVP.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 2)

The Eagles won again, but it was ugly and it came against one of the worst teams in the league. This was probably a fluke but they still have to drop a spot for that showing.

4. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 4)

The Ravens had a bye week so they stay put.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 5)

I hate calling a 12-1 team the luckiest 12-1 team we've ever seen, but sometimes you have to call a spade a spade. Not only have they blocked a field goal for a win this season, but the Chiefs have now doinked a field goal off the upright and still have the ball go through to win. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was probably just thankful it didn't doink twice.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 6)

Getting revenge on the Browns for that brutal loss two weeks ago had to feel good, but I still can't move the Steelers any higher than this.

7. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 8)

I know the Vikings just spent the tenth overall pick on JJ McCarthy, but Kevin O'Connell and the front office need to be having conversations about Sam Darnold as a long-term starter. We're well past the point of calling his renaissance season a fluke.

8. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 7)

The Packers are a good team, but they've yet to beat any of the top teams they've faced so far this year. In fact, they're a blocked field goal away from being 0-4 in their division. One has to wonder if they'll be a one-and-done in this year's playoffs.

9. LA Chargers (Last week: 9)

On Sunday, the Chargers became just the latest team to almost beat the mighty Chiefs. I won't drop them for a close loss against the defending champs.

10. LA Rams (Last week: 16)

If you're any of the NFC's top teams right now, you have to be hoping and praying that the Rams don't sneak into the playoffs with the way they're playing right now. It's hard to believe that two months ago we were wondering if this was the year they'd finally hit the reset button. Instead, they're pushing for a Super Bowl run.

11. Houston Texans (Last week: 10)

The Texans had a bye week, but I had to drop them to make room for the Rams.

12. Denver Broncos (Last week: 11)

Likewise, the Broncos fall one spot during their bye week but only to make room for the Rams.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 14)

Just like that, the Buccaneers are on top of the NFC South. Just like the Rams, the Bucs' season at one point appeared to be over, but a hot streak here, combined with the fall of the Falcons, has put them back in the playoff picture.

14. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 15)

The Seahawks are leading the NFC West for now with a gutsy win over the sinking Cardinals, but the Rams are right behind them and pushing hard. A Week 18 clash between these two teams could decide who's advancing to the playoffs and who's going home for the year.

15. Washington Commanders (Last week: 13)

The Commanders had a bye week, but I had to drop them to make room for a couple of teams.

16. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 17)

In one of the more exciting games of the week, the Dolphins came from behind to take the Jets to overtime where Tua Tagovailoa delivered the walk-off touchdown pass for the win.

17. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 18)

The Niners crushed the Bears at home to end their losing streak, but I wouldn't read too much into it. The Bears have waved the white flag on the season and have first-timers at head coach, defensive coordinator, and offensive coordinator. This was child's play for Kyle Shanahan.

18. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 12)

I'm so disappointed in the Falcons. They were my dark horse team for this season and they started off looking like real contenders. But in the midst of a four-game losing streak, they may not even reach the playoffs at all.

19. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 20)

The Bengals finally snapped their losing streak but in bizarre fashion. Dallas blocked a Bengals' punt deep in Cincinnati territory with less than two minutes left in a tie game, but the Cowboys touched the ball first before allowing Cincinnati to fall on it, giving them a fresh set of downs. Their playoff hopes may be on life support, but they're still alive.

20. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 19)

Perhaps no other team has been on more of a rollercoaster this year than the Cardinals. They started the season 2-4, then rattled off four straight wins. Now, however, they've lost three in a row. Their season is just about over at 6-7.

21. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 21)

The Colts had a bye week so they stay put.

22. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 25)

One of the ugliest games of the week still ended with some drama as New Orleans blocked the Giants' field goal attempt that would have sent the game into a 14-14 overtime. The Saints won but they may have lost Derrick Carr for the season.

23. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 23)

New week, same ol' Cowboys. They have some serious soul-searching to do this offseason.

24. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 24)

The Raiders nearly mounted a comeback effort against the Buccaneers, but losing Aiden O'Connell to a brutal leg injury cost them this game. Raiders fans can still look at this as a win, however, as this loss put them into position for the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.

25. Chicago Bears (Last week: 22)

This feels like rock bottom for the Bears. They fired their head coach (who should have been fired back in January), drew a 49ers team that is decimated by injuries, but got blown out anyway by the kind of head coach and play-caller that they can only dream of having.

Dreams may become a reality soon, however, only if the Bears take this head coaching search seriously. Team president Kevin Warren recently called this job opening the most coveted in the NFL. If he and team owner George McCaskey truly believe that, they need to prove it and spare no expense to bring in the most qualified candidate.

Who will that be? Time will tell, but anyone who hopes to have a shot at the job better go into the interview with his plan to develop Caleb Williams as the centerpiece of his presentation.

26. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 26)

Is that a glimmer of hope I see for the Carolina Panthers? Bryce Young nearly had his team in position to beat the mighty Eagles until the sheer weight of talent gap between the two teams became too much. The Panthers have to spend this offseason building up their offense to give Young a shot to prove they didn't draft the wrong quarterback.

27. New England Patriots (Last week: 27)

The Patriots had a bye week so they stay put.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 31)

If you thought the Saints/Giants game was bad, at least that one ended dramatically. This game was a 10-6 snoozefest from start to finish.

29. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 28)

I'm shocked that Will Levis is still starting for the Titans. He's just not very good and the Titans need to be looking for his replacement.

30. New York Jets (Last week: 29)

It's hard to believe the Aaron Rodgers-led Jets once had legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.

31. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 31)

Completing roughly 50% of his passes for 212 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in a loss, Jameis Winston once again gave Browns fans the full Jameis Winston experience.

32. New York Giants (Last week: 32)

Fans of the Giants need to be rooting for losses at this point. They're currently slated to pick second overall but one win from the Las Vegas Raiders would push the Giants into the first overall pick if they lose out.