Advertisement

Week 2 Power Rankings: Bears fall after embarrassing loss to Rams

After little to no bright spots in Sunday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Chicago Bears find themselves falling in the weekly power rankings.

As Matt Nagy tries to rally his team back together heading into the first home game of the season, let’s take a look at where the Bears stand going into Week 2.

CBS Sports: 24th

Harry How/Getty Images

CBS Sports had the Bears drop just one spot to 24 after their blowout loss on Sunday Night Football. They didn’t believe the offense was good enough with Andy Dalton, which is true.

Outside of David Montgomery having a solid game, there wasn’t much to write home about on offense. Throwing the ball past 10 yards was almost nonexistent with Dalton. I’m not sure if that was their game plan, but an offensive “guru” like Nagy should have changed that up quickly.

Just seeing that begs the question of how short will Dalton’s leash be heading in Week 2?

ESPN: 26th

Eileen T. Meslar-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears’ 34-14 loss to the Rams had ESPN drop them from 22nd to 26th in their weekly power rankings. Though they didn’t even have the biggest drop from any team in their division, down four spots in treading in the wrong direction.

Something ESPN made note of was the play from Khalil Herbert. Herbert did return the ball well, making an impactful presence in his NFL regular-season debut. Still, the poor play from the offense and Andy Dalton ruined the great field position he set the Bears in a few times on kickoffs.

NFL.com: 26th

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Bears dropped from 21st to 26th on NFL.com‘s power rankings.

Outside of Justin Fields giving the Bears a little bit of an identity in his few plays against the Rams, there isn’t much NFL.com has to say about the quarterback position that is positive.

Yes, Fields scored the only touchdown between him and Andy Dalton – on a designed rushing play. He also gives the team a better chance to win.

It’s telling that the offense feels the same way with this quote from David Montgomery.

“He has a natural aura to himself that changes the flow of how things go,” Montgomery said following the loss “He’s a great kid and a humble human being.”

How much longer will Matt Nagy have the locker room if he continues to put Dalton in the game? At some point, the offensive players are going to be demotivated.

USA Today: 26th

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

USA Today has the Bears falling just one spot, which is generous, going from 25th to 26th. Not to say they’re giving Andy Dalton an excuse – but they did say people are forgetting “how bad Chicago’s offensive line and defensive are.”

The defense, for the most part, isn’t bad. They had a horrible game – but that doesn’t make them bad. The offensive line on the other hand? They’re struggling with injuries. Plus, that Rams defensive line is full of studs. It was a mismatch.

It wasn’t all Dalton’s fault, but with how athletic Justin Fields is, he holds his own better with a struggling offensive line.

Touchdown Wire: 26th

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Bears fall just one spot with Touchdown Wire, going from 25th to 26th. The belief is Andy Dalton isn’t the guy and Justin Fields showed some promise.

The Bears sticking with Dalton when they could move over to Fields, who scored his first rushing touchdown, is a bad decision.

The defense struggled and Dalton’s “subpar” play didn’t help them, at all. At least with Fields, he can extend plays better with his legs. It’s time for Matt Nagy to make the right decision and swap quarterbacks.

More 2021 season