Bears' Rooting Guide for 2022 NFL Draft Implications of Week 11
There are a few things Chicago Bears fans can be thankful for as we head toward Thanksgiving, their 3-7 record is not one of them.
That is unless you are rooting for the team to pick as early as possible in the 2022 draft.
Justin Fields is showing signs of life. The coaching staff has unleashed his rushing ability over the last few weeks and the results have been a much more fun offense to watch and some close games.
It has not resulted in wins, though. The Bears are on a three-game skid and are 1-6 over their last seven games.
It's never fun to watch that much losing, but it is fun to hope that the 2022 draft can bring another blue-chip prospect to help build around Fields under Matt Eberflus's vision for the team.
Here's a look at the current draft order, where the Bears stand and what to root for this week to optimize draft position.
Current Draft Order
1 of 3
1. Houston Texans
2. Las Vegas Raiders
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Chicago Bears
7. Detroit Lions (from LA Rams)
8. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)
9. Houston Texans (from Cleveland)
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
11. Detroit Lions
12. Green Bay Packers
13. Atlanta Falcons
14. Arizona Cardinals
15. Indianapolis Colts
16. Washington Commanders
17. Los Angeles Chargers
18. Cincinnati Bengals
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. Denver Broncos (from SF via MIA)
21. New England Patriots
22. Seattle Seahawks
23. New York Jets
24. Buffalo Bills
25. Baltimore Ravens
26. Dallas Cowboys
27. Tennessee Titans
28. New York Giants
29. Forfeited (Miami Dolphins)
30. Minnesota Vikings
31. Kansas City Chiefs
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Order via Tankathon
Where the Bears Stand
2 of 3
If the draft were today, the Chicago Bears would be selecting sixth.
Their 3-7 record puts them in a group with the Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints (who have traded their pick to the Philadelphia Eagles) and Jacksonville. However, their strength of schedule (.573) has them picking last in that group.
That leaves plenty of room for variance at this point. There's a group of five 3-6 teams heading into Week 11 so they are really part of a bigger logjam that will sort itself out over the next seven weeks.
The Bears' recent success makes it possible they play themselves out of the top 10. According to ESPN NFL FPI, the Bears have the 11th-toughest remaining schedule.
However, they are just a week removed from losing to the Miami Dolphins by three points. If Fields continues to run the ball and the Bears young core continues to improve, they will be a dangerous team week in and week out.
That's why it's important they get some help to maximize their draft slot.
Games to Watch
3 of 3
Browns vs. Bills, 1 p.m. ET
The 3-6 Cleveland Browns are one of the wildcard teams among the group of teams right behind the Bears in the draft order. The back stretch of the season can come down to motivation and the Browns have a reason to be motivated even as their season continues to crumble.
Deshaun Watson has started practicing with the team in preparation for his debut which should come against the Houston Texans in Week 13. The Browns defense has been particularly bad and is coming off a 39-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Under typical circumstances, with the Browns going to Buffalo, they wouldn't have much of a chance to win. However, the Bills are on a two-game skid and the contest was moved to Detroit due to a snowstorm that could accumulate up to five feet of snow.
That favors the Browns as they now get a slumping team that doesn't get to play at home suddenly. A win would move them to 4-6 and continue to give them hope that Watson can elevate them back into the playoff race.
Lions at Giants, 1 p.m. ET
The Lions are another team lurking just behind the Bears with a record of 3-6. As much as it may pain the Bears faithful to root for their fellow NFC North brethren, it is what's best for the team's draft odds.
At 7-2 the Giants' surprising success makes them a non-factor in the Bears quest for good draft positioning.
But they are vulnerable enough to help a bad team win some games they shouldn't. Brian Daboll has done a great job with the Giants, but they had close calls all season. They are 7-1 in one-score games. That includes a 24-16 win over the Houston Texans last week.
This is a spot where the Lions could steal one.
Bengals at Steelers, 4:25 p.m. ET
One of the good things about the teams directly behind Chicago is that three of them don't own their own picks. The Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns have no reason to tank. They won't actually be on the clock when their turn comes in April.
The Steelers are the highest pick in the 3-6 group that actually have control over their own pick and thus have the most reason to tank.
It's a really unfamiliar situation for the franchise. They haven't had a losing season since 2003.
That makes it all the more likely they can pull off an upset this week against the Bengals, a division rival they already beat once. The first time they met they won a 23-20 overtime game. With T.J. Watt back in the lineup, the Bears should be rooting for an upset and less competition in the three-win club.
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