Bears NFL power rankings roundup going into Week 2

After a very ugly showing against the Green Bay Packers, there are a lot of question marks surrounding the Chicago Bears. As the Power Rankings show, now many people have the same faith they had in them just days before their Week 1 matchup.

Going into their game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both sides of the ball will have to change the narrative. The offense will need to be able to air the ball out better, while the defense will need to be able to stop Baker Mayfield and get the football back for their offense.

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Before their Week 2 matchup with the Buccaneers, let’s take a look at where the Bears stand in various power rankings around the league.

USA Today

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Current Ranking: 27th

Last Week’s Ranking: 25th

Author: Nate Davis

Author’s take: 

New WR DJ Moore had one fewer tackle (1) in his Chicago debut than he did receptions (2). Not the way anyone expected that to go.

Our take:

DJ Moore looked really good with the ball in his hands – the problem was, Justin Fields was only able to get it in his hands twice. That needs to change. If Moore wasn’t going to be used, the Bears could’ve kept their first overall pick and added a pass rush, something they desperately need. Now, of course, they know that Moore is a huge part of that offense. Next week, expect him to have a big game, win or lose.

Bears Wire

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Current Ranking: 28th

Last Week’s Ranking: 21st

Author: Brendan Sugrue

Author’s take: 

The Bears were outcoached, outplayed, and outsmarted in their game against the Packers. This was supposed to be the turning point in a one-sided rivalry and instead it was much of the same.

Our take:

The coaching staff had an entire offseason to come up with a game plan for the Packers, and that was the best they could do? If that’s what Matt Eberflus and co. can do with months of preparation, what will he be able to do in one week? Outcoached, outplayed, and outsmarted. It was all around an ugly game – a game that after you watch the tape, you burn it and try to forget about it.

ESPN

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Current Ranking: 29th

Last Week’s Ranking: 24th

Author: Courtney Cronin

Author’s take: 

The fourth-round running back was the lone bright spot for the Bears in a 38-20 drubbing by Green Bay. Johnson’s touchdown may have come too late, but his efficiency as a rusher (4.0 yards per carry) was the best of any Bears running back. Chicago leaned on the rookie (29 snaps) more than Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman, a load share that could become heavier for Johnson should he continue to provide the offense with multiple uses.

Our take:

Roschon Johnson was a sign of life for the Bears on Sunday. If the Bears can run the ball well, that’ll open up their passing game. There’s a good chance that Johnson will end up as the top running back on the team by the end of the season.

NFL.com

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Current Ranking: 29th

Last Week’s Ranking: 26th

Author: Eric Edholm

Author’s take: 

There weren’t a ton of positives to take away from the opener, which ended in a ninth straight loss to Green Bay. Justin Fields wasn’t bad, per se, but he was hardly great — and the overall offensive struggles were such that any offseason optimism anyone might have been feeling was severely tamped down. Netting 6 points on the first three possessions hurt, as the Bears turned the ball over on downs and got bogged down twice deep in Green Bay territory. The offensive line was a sieve. There were five offensive penalties. And Fields threw a horrific pick-six late that sealed it. On top of that, Chicago’s defense fell flat, too: The Bears were inconsistent with their pass rush and coverage, generated zero turnovers and executed poorly on third and fourth down. There was more bad here than I imagined the Bears having in Week 1.

Our take:

On paper, Justin Fields was better than how he looked. He missed some key throws, and some key opportunities to make some key throws. The positives are, that it’s only Week 1 and things can get better. The negatives are that this was a huge game against the Packers where the offense wasn’t competitive, and everybody made Fields out to be an improved passer before the game.

Yahoo! Sports

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

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Current Ranking: 30th

Last Week’s Ranking: 27th

Author: Frank Schwab

Author’s take: 

Offensive lines get blamed for sacks, but quarterbacks often have the biggest role in sack numbers. Justin Fields was sacked 55 times last season, which led the NFL, and he took four more in Week 1. He has to figure out how to get better in that aspect of the game if he wants to go to the next level.

Our take:

On Sunday, Justin Fields had time to throw the ball, but didn’t get rid of it quickly enough. That turned into broken plays and sacks. That is something that can be worked on and fixed with the right coaching staff, but how much patience and time will they give a Year 3 quarterback? Yes, it’s just one game, but he’s played in 28 already and continues to show the same mistakes.