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Bears Power Rankings Roundup Week 9: Bears Surge After Jeffery Simmons Wrecks Seahawks in Debut
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- Bears Power Rankings Roundup Week 9: Bears Surge After Jeffery Simmons Wrecks Seahawks in Debut
The Chicago Bears walked into Seattle and sent the NFL a message that they are for real . With a 34-17 win over the Seahawks, they completed a sweep of last season's Super Bowl teams. Needless to say, the outlook on the Bears is as high as it's been in nearly two decades.
The latest power rankings are out, and the national media have given Chicago its due. There's still a lot of football left, but this Bears team has impressed throughout the season.
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Here is the Bears Power Rankings Roundup going into Week 9:
Where the Bears Rank in NFL Power Rankings
NFL.com: No. 3 (up from No. 6)
ESPN: No. 7 (up from No. 8)Yahoo Sports: No. 4 (up from No. 5)
Pro Football Talk: No. 5 (up from No. 8)
What National Pundits Are Saying About the Bears' Power Rankings
Nov 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) under center against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
"Those who were familiar with Jeffery Simmons' game knew he'd make an immediate difference for a Chicago front that needed an elite disruptor. The rest of the football world quickly learned about him in Monday night's 34-17 road win over the defending champion Seahawks. Simmons elevated the Bears' front by multiple levels, pressuring Sam Darnold and eventually attracting double teams that freed Montez Sweat for more one-on-one rushes in what doubled as a preview of the conundrum every team will have to navigate going forward. Chicago isn't just an offensive machine anymore; this is a team with a defense that just might be able to complement Caleb Williams and Co." – Nick Shook, NFL.com
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"Three seasons before the Bears sent three draft picks, including two first-rounders, to Tennessee to acquire All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, GM Ryan Poles got aggressive in 2023 to land Sweat. Chicago sent a 2024 second-rounder to Washington in exchange for Sweat, who led both the Commanders (6.5) and Bears (6.0) in sacks in 2023, making him the first player in NFL history to lead two different teams in sacks in the same season. Sweat recorded his first double-digit sack season and reached similar production in 2025, when he led Chicago with 10 sacks. Coach Ben Johnson called that season the best of Sweat's career." – Courtney Cronin, ESPN
"The Bears' front office understood the assignment. Chicago traded two first-round draft picks to Tennessee for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. If there's a bigger move at the deadline from any team, it'll be a surprise. Simmons is exactly what the Bears' defense needed as a disruptor on the line, and he notched a sack in his Chicago debut on Monday night against Seattle. Chicago clearly feels like it's a contender now and was willing to sacrifice some high future draft picks for a shot at making a deep playoff run. That doesn't mean the Bears should be done on defense, though any other move wouldn't be major. A mid-round draft pick for pass rushing help would continue to improve the defensive front. A reunion with Khalil Mack would make a ton of sense. But make no mistake: The Bears already made their all-in move." – Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports
"The Bears are NOT who we thought they were — they're serious contenders to win the whole thing." – Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk
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Bears Climbing Into the NFL's Top Tier
Nov 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (99) takes on Seattle Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) and offensive tackle Abraham Lucas (72) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
You can call it the Simmons effect. The Bears saw his impact immediately, as did the rest of the football world. Anyone who isn't a fan of a Bears division rival is buying into what Chicago is selling. With an offense that can get the job done against tough defenses and a defense this talented, it's hard not to.
The Bears will host the Buccaneers next in a matchup of former No. 1 overall picks at quarterback. Caleb Williams and Baker Mayfield should put on an entertaining show, unless the Bears' front seven wreaks havoc on Tampa Bay first.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
