NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Where Did ESPN Get It Wrong?

For once, ESPN and I largely agree on our power rankings, except for on huge, glaring disagreement. The so-called experts at the four-letter network have, in their infinite wisdom, placed the 4-3 Chicago Bears at the No. 10 spot in their rankings. I've got the Bears at No. 18, and I'm right.

While the Bears have won two straight, those victories came over the hapless Minnesota Vikings and the stagnant Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I just wasn't impressed by Chicago in either game. The Bears had a bye week this past Sunday and will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in Week 9. 

I'm sorry, but I don't see Chicago as anything more than an average team. Offensively, they rank 16th in total yards (337.4 per game), while coming in at 17th in passing yards per game (222.7) and 16th in rushing yards per game (114.7). On defense, they rank 23rd in total yards allowed (380.6 per game) and their pass defense is a dismal 28th league-wide, surrendering 271.9 yards per game.

None of those numbers tell me Chicago is a top-10 NFL team. 

While running back Matt Forte is having an excellent season and has established himself as one of the top total yardage players in the NFL, quarterback Jay Cutler has continued to be no better than average. The 28-year-old signal-caller has completed 137 of 232 passes (59.1 percent) for 1,702 yards, with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. His quarterback rating of 84.0 ranks him 15th in the league out of the 33 players who qualify.

One of the most troubling things about the Bears is their horribly soft offensive line. When it comes to winning football games during a long season, you must have a stout line protecting your quarterback, Chicago most certainly does not possess that. Cutler has been sacked 21 times already this season, and against solid pass rushes, the Bears seem to have no answer.

I just don't trust Chicago to be anything more than they are right now, which is an average NFL team without much upside. Other than Forte, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, there is no one on that roster I think I could count on in a big game. And I'm not forgetting Julius Peppers, who is certainly talented. But he hasn't had the type of impact this season that everyone expected. 

I don't know if the Bears will end up putting things together and turn into a great football team this season, but I do know they don't belong among the NFL's top 10 teams.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 9

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-1)
4. New England Patriots (5-2)
5. Detroit Lions (6-2)
6. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
7. New Orleans Saints (5-3)
8. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
9. Houston Texans (5-3)
10. New York Giants (5-2)
11. New York Jets (4-3)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
13. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
14. Oakland Raiders (4-3)
15. San Diego Chargers (4-3)
16. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
18. Chicago Bears (4-3)
19. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4)
20. Tennessee Titans (4-3)
21. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
22. Cleveland Browns (3-4)
23. Washington Redskins (3-4)
24. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
25. Minnesota Vikings (2-6)
26. Carolina Panthers (2-6)
27. Denver Broncos (2-5)
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)
29. Arizona Cardinals (1-6)
30. St. Louis Rams (1-6)
31. Indianapolis Colts (0-8)
32. Miami Dolphins (0-7)