The Chicago Bears are officially getting the respect they deserve.
Following their lopsided 34-17 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, the Bears made one of the biggest jumps in NFL.com's Week 9 power rankings.
Chicago climbed six spots from No. 9 to No. 3, trailing only the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.
Yes, you read that right. The Bears are, for all intents and purposes, viewed as a Super Bowl team.
Jeffery Simmons has changed the conversation
NFL.com's Nick Shook pointed to newly acquired defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as the biggest reason for Chicago's rise.
"Those who were familiar with Jeffery Simmons’ game knew he’d make an immediate difference for a Chicago front that needed an elite disruptor. The rest of the football world quickly learned about him in Monday night's 34-17 road win over the defending champion Seahawks. Simmons elevated the Bears' front by multiple levels, pressuring Sam Darnold and eventually attracting double teams that freed Montez Sweat for more one-on-one rushes in what doubled as a preview of the conundrum every team will have to navigate going forward. Chicago isn’t just an offensive machine anymore; this is a team with a defense that just might be able to complement Caleb Williams and Co."
Simmons recorded six tackles and a sack against the Seahawks. But his impact extended beyond just the box score. He drew double teams and unlocked the best version of Sweat.
The result was a defense that suddenly looked capable of matching Chicago's offense. And, yeah... that's a big deal.
Bears are among the NFL's elite
Chicago's No. 3 ranking puts them ahead of several established contenders, including the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 4), Detroit Lions (No. 5) and Denver Broncos (No. 6).
Meanwhile, Seattle dropped to No. 7 following Monday night's loss.
The Bears enter Week 9 riding a three-game winning streak, with their next test coming against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night.
The Bears aren't just a good, young team with upside anymore. They're now a very real Super Bowl contender.
BearsTalk Analytics2026 season
How the players in this story are grading
50.1Montez Sweat. BTX grade 50.05 out of 100, rank 55 among 122 qualified edge rushers.
67.0Caleb Williams. BTX grade 66.95 out of 100, rank 13 among 45 qualified quarterbacks.
46.2Sam Darnold. BTX grade 46.15 out of 100, rank 27 among 45 qualified quarterbacks.
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