The Chicago Bears got their quarterback back in Week 6 and returned to the win column with a road victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Now, on a short week, the Bears will host the defending AFC champions. With Caleb Williams back under center, Chicago appears to be trending upward, setting up a prime-time battle between two of the top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. The biggest question on fans’ minds is whether the Bears are back in the Super Bowl contender conversation.
After a disastrous Week 5, the optimism surrounding Chicago took a hit, as did its standing in the national power rankings. Despite having a strong coaching staff and roster, the Bears showed just how much Williams means to the team. His impact under center and the way his return energized his teammates were on full display in Chicago’s 31-23 win. Now, the Bears have an opportunity to make another statement on Thursday night.
Chicago made notable gains across several national power rankings entering Week 7. Here is where the Bears stand heading into their matchup with the New England Patriots.
Where the Bears Rank in NFL Power Rankings
- NFL.com: 11 (up from 13)
- Yahoo Sports: 6 (up from 8)
- ESPN: 9 (up from 13)
- Pro Football Talk: 10 (up from 15)
What National Pundits Are Saying About the Bears’ Power Ranking
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
“Caleb Williams was stellar in his return to the offense, opening up everything that was trapped behind padlocks in Green Bay. With the Iceman at the controls, everyone ate: Colston Loveland caught a touchdown pass, D’Andre Swift scored twice, Roschon Johnson bullied his way into the end zone, and the Bears could not be denied. That said, they need to clean up their penalties (12 for 133 yards on Sunday) and finish games more comfortably than they did in Atlanta.” — Nick Shook (NFL.com)
“The 31-23 win over the Falcons wasn’t really that close. The Bears let down in the fourth quarter, turning a 31-7 lead into a one-score game. That’s not ideal but the way they played through three quarters in Caleb Williams’ return was impressive. Cornerback Kyler Gordon’s odd 2026 took a positive turn. Gordon had missed the offseason and the first five games due to a calf injury, prompting questions about his future with the team. In just 17 snaps on Sunday, Gordon had three sacks and two forced fumbles. He’s the first Bears defensive back with three sacks in a game since Todd Bell in 1983. He’s just the second defensive back in NFL history with three sacks and two forced fumbles in a game, joining Rod Kush of the Houston Oilers in 1985, according to the Bears’ site. His playmaking will be welcomed on the Bears’ defense.” — Frank Schwab (Yahoo Sports)
“Quarterback Caleb Williams being back under center alleviates a lot of the issues the Bears struggled with in his absence, such as red zone execution, third-down efficiency and their downfield passing attack. One area that can stand to be cleaned up more is offensive penalties, which accounted for seven of the Bears’ infractions Sunday. Those offensive penalties helped generate Chicago’s most penalty yardage in a game since 2016 (133). The Bears are currently tied for the third-most offensive holding penalties (10). That’s an area they’ll want to fix so it doesn’t derail drives.” — Courtney Cronin (ESPN)
“A franchise quarterback makes all the difference.” — Mike Florio (Pro Football Talk)
Williams’ Return Sends Bears Back Into the Top 10
The Bears not only welcomed Williams back to the lineup but also climbed back into the top 10 of several national power rankings. As Florio noted, a franchise quarterback makes all the difference, and Williams has shown just how valuable he is to Chicago’s offense.
That is not to diminish head coach Ben Johnson‘s ability to lead the unit, but Williams’ big-play potential was on full display in Week 6. The Falcons struggled to contain the Bears’ offense, which found the end zone four times and built a commanding 31-7 lead before Atlanta mounted a late comeback.
Now, Williams will make his first home appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2 that sidelined him for three and a half games. With the defending AFC champions coming to Chicago for a Thursday night showdown, the Bears have an opportunity to turn their Week 6 victory into a statement win.
Williams’ return has already lifted Chicago in the national power rankings. Can he deliver another standout performance in his first game back at Soldier Field and help the Bears prove they belong in the playoff contender conversation?
