After starting the season 3-1, the Chicago Bears looked like legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Their offense was firing on all cylinders despite Caleb Williams’ absence, the defense was playing at an elite level, and head coach Ben Johnson had entered the NFL Coach of the Year conversation. However, their longtime rivals crushed those early-season ambitions in Week 5, raising new questions about Chicago’s outlook.
The good news is that Williams should return relatively soon. The bad news is that his return can’t come soon enough. Chicago looked lost without its star quarterback during its Week 5 road trip to Green Bay. As a result, the Bears took a hit in the latest power rankings. Although their tumble wasn’t as steep as expected, national analysts and experts are raising serious questions about Chicago.
Here are the Bears’ power rankings for Week 6.
Where the Bears Rank in NFL Power Rankings
- NFL.com: No. 13 (down from No. 10)
- Yahoo Sports: No. 8 (down from No. 6)
- ESPN: No. 13 (down from No. 8)
- Pro Football Talk: No. 15 (down from No. 9)
What National Pundits Are Saying About the Bears’ Power Ranking
“We learned on Sunday that Ben Johnson is not quarterback-proof. Tyson Bagent’s rough day kneecapped Chicago’s offense, which managed just 246 yards and couldn’t keep up with Green Bay’s suddenly explosive offense. Understandably, the Packers showed little respect for the Bears’ secondary, which finally became the problem I thought it might be entering 2026, surrendering a 367-yard passing day that could be transformative for Jordan Love and Co. Caleb Williams can’t return fast enough.” — Nick Shook, NFL.com
“It’s hard to rank the Bears. On one hand, they were horrendous in a 31-7 loss to the Packers. Also, they have scored 60 points in four games since scoring 59 in the opener. They’ve had two games scoring seven or fewer points. A defense that had been playing well gave up too many big plays against the Packers, who had 358 yards passing. Of course, everything will change soon when Caleb Williams comes back. It’s unfair to judge a team too harshly when it went 2-1 with two different backup quarterbacks. And Williams is close to returning from a hamstring injury.” — Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports
“The Bears’ preseason belief that their secondary would be the strength of the defense has gone out the window. That unit allowed Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love to complete six passes for 25-plus yards and has been trending down since a shootout with the Panthers in Week 1. Rookie defensive backs Dillon Thieneman and Malik Muhammad II will understandably experience growing pains, but the play of veteran cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (77.3% of targets thrown into his coverage have been caught) and Tyrique Stevenson Sr. (allowing a 140.7 passer rating when targeted) is a major cause for concern.” — Courtney Cronin, ESPN
“Tyson Bagent’s expiration date seems to have arrived.” — Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk
Bear Down?
Wm. Glasheen USAToday Network via IMAGN images
The general consensus aligns with the concerns surrounding the Bears following their Week 5 loss. Their most immediate concern is Williams’ return timeline. He won’t solve every problem overnight, but having their franchise quarterback back on the field would provide a significant boost. Williams can overcome offensive shortcomings with his elite playmaking ability, and Chicago has struggled in the red zone this season. His absence has contributed to those issues.
However, the Bears’ biggest problem might not be on offense. Instead, their secondary has become a major concern after the defense enjoyed a hot streak from Weeks 2 through 4. During that stretch, Chicago allowed just 217 yards and 9.3 points per game. The defense looked dominant, but Jordan Love poured cold water on that momentum Sunday. The Bears surrendered multiple explosive plays downfield, including several long touchdown passes.
Those struggles are raising serious questions about whether Chicago has enough talent in its secondary to support defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s aggressive scheme. The starting cornerbacks have struggled, while several of the defense’s most encouraging contributors are rookies. That combination presents a difficult path to sustained success.
The Bears still have time to correct their mistakes, particularly with Williams nearing a return. However, if their secondary continues to surrender explosive plays, Chicago could struggle to maintain its early-season momentum, regardless of how quickly its offense gets back on track.
