ESPN Power Rankings

[CrackerDog]

They have the Bears at 21 so still bottom third.  I hope we surprise a lot of people this year.  

[Stinger226]

25 minutes ago, CrackerDog said:

They have the Bears at 21 so still bottom third.  I hope we surprise a lot of people this year.  

These are just someones opinion. If you're close to the Bears you see weaknesses being fixed.  Last year almost everyone predicted us to do much better than we did. Now they are being reserved on their predictions to not look bad.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

1 hour ago, CrackerDog said:

They have the Bears at 21 so still bottom third.  I hope we surprise a lot of people this year.  

Until we see the oline product at a better rate and more important the QB take a meaningful step forward - I'm in a show me don't tell me state with the franhcise.  I think the camp will be the most competitive camp in a decade plus and that should drive to good things, but none of it matters if Caleb can't figure out how to get the ball out faster more consistently, do a better job at pre-read/blitz protection, and be more accurate and in rhythm (reality is more accurate but I think his lack of accuracy last year, especially on deep balls was because he was forcing things).  But bottom line - he's got to take a meaningful step forward because the defense while decent has its weakness(es).  

But I am optimistic as to how we are trending and I think it is a deep and diverse set of skill players, an improved oline, and a better coaching staff (on paper).  But you can have all of the right ingredients, if the chef doesn't get it right, none of it works...in this case I think of Caleb as the chef.  He's shown he can make masterpieces in college - now lets see him really take the next step at the NFL level and show that he can be a "Michelin star" QB.  

[BearFan PHX]

11 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

Until we see the oline product at a better rate and more important the QB take a meaningful step forward - I'm in a show me don't tell me state with the franhcise.  I think the camp will be the most competitive camp in a decade plus and that should drive to good things, but none of it matters if Caleb can't figure out how to get the ball out faster more consistently, do a better job at pre-read/blitz protection, and be more accurate and in rhythm (reality is more accurate but I think his lack of accuracy last year, especially on deep balls was because he was forcing things).  But bottom line - he's got to take a meaningful step forward because the defense while decent has its weakness(es).  

But I am optimistic as to how we are trending and I think it is a deep and diverse set of skill players, an improved oline, and a better coaching staff (on paper).  But you can have all of the right ingredients, if the chef doesn't get it right, none of it works...in this case I think of Caleb as the chef.  He's shown he can make masterpieces in college - now lets see him really take the next step at the NFL level and show that he can be a "Michelin star" QB.  

Exactly.

There are many reasons for optimism with this roster, coaching staff and QB. But the Bears have "won the offseason" before. You do that by changing radically, which, frankly, good teams dont have to do!

If I had to bet, Id bet on us becoming really good this year. Im not pessimistic about it at ALL. But the Yankees, and former Redskins and Raiders have taught us that you can assemble a fantastic roster and still fail to gel into a champion.

I have faith in Johnson and his staff to get the most out of these guys. There is every reason to believe greatness is coming. But like you, I need to see it on the field. I won't be surprised at all when it comes, but I can't be upset about a power ranking before we do anything on the field. It's about right. Could it be top 10 or top 5 by the end of the year? SURE it could. And Id think ending, say 7th, is more likely than ending 21st.

But you're right - you gotta show it to me - I look forward to seeing it!

[Mongo3451]

It's all about Caleb.  After that, I believe we are going to see a physicality that we haven't under the Flus years.  In listening to Jurko talk about going to one of the Bears "full contact" practices today, I was completely dumbfounded.  He reported that it was the least physical, full contact, practice he had ever witnessed and it wasn't even close.  You can replay him on the app to hear how adamant he was.  Thayer has mentioned the same and had also commented on poor weight room work habits.  Johnson has all but guaranteed, that shit ain't happening.  Guys are gonna get physical or get out.  My expectation from day one is that we are gonna see that in the first pre-season game.  Will this make the OL better?  Hell yes it will.  Same with DL.  This year is not about additions and subtractions, it's all about a new mindset. 

Back to Caleb.  We'll know by week 4 if the light is bright.  If bright, we win ten games and are playoff bound.  If the light is mid, we win eight.  A ten win season puts us in the window for 2026.  An eight win season gets us looking for a QB again.

[adam]

4 hours ago, CrackerDog said:

They have the Bears at 21 so still bottom third.  I hope we surprise a lot of people this year.  

Here were the non-playoff NFC teams from last season:

15. SF 6-11
16. SEA 10-7
18. ATL 8-9
19. DAL 7-10
21. CHI 5-12
22. ARZ 8-9
27. CAR 5-12
28. NO 5-12
32. NYG 3-14

They normally don't move teams more than 1 or 2 spots but I would figure the Bears should be in the 17-19 range based on 2025 projections. 

[adam]

I would say the Rams are too high at #7 for a 10-win team, CIN is too high at #10 for a 9-win team, and SF is too high for a 6-win team.

The Rams essentially swapped Kupp for Adams, so why they are a top 10 team, who knows.

I have no idea what CIN did to move up, they literally did nothing this offseason and missed the playoffs last season.

SF is a 6-win team until they prove they aren't. They don't have Samuel or Mason, and McCaffrey has missed a total of 37 games out of 84 since 2020, 44%, not including the games he got hurt in and left.