ESPN NFL Power Rankings, Week 3: Bears drop 3 spots after loss to Packers

The Chicago Bears’ disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 2’s Sunday night game has impacted their standing in ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings entering Week 3. It’s funny how that works, isn’t it? When the Bears upset the San Francisco 49ers in a monsoon in Week 1, ESPN didn’t move Chicago up. But lose a game to Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers — a game that the Bears were double-digit underdogs — and the slide begins.

Chicago dropped from No. 25 to No. 28. Essentially, ESPN has the Bears as one of the four worst teams in the league.

“Justin Fields had 48 net passing yards against the Packers. Sure, the Bears ran the ball effectively behind David Montgomery’s 15 carries for 122 yards, but Chicago’s offense must generate some semblance of a passing attack to not make themselves one-dimensional and easy to defend,” ESPN’s Courtney Cronin wrote. “Through two weeks, the Bears are running just 48.5 plays per game (the second lowest in the NFL), have the highest sack rate (12.5%) and the league’s lowest percentage of passing plays (32.04%). Chicago can lean predominantly on the run game with its developmental quarterback, but it can’t abandon the passing game entirely the way it did against the Packers.”

The Packers, meanwhile, moved up one spot — to No. 7 — after upending the Bears. The Minnesota Vikings dropped from 10th to 11th after a disappointing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Detroit Lions made the biggest jump in the division, up seven spots to No. 20, after their impressive win over the Washington Commanders.

That leaves the Bears as the cellar-dweller in the NFC North. They’ll have a chance at a get-right game at home in Week 3 against the Houston Texans. If Chicago loses? They could begin Week 4 ranked 32nd in power rankings like these. If they win? Eh. Don’t expect any credit.

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