League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Chicago Bears rank 12th in ESPN power rankings ahead of season opener

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 9, 2026, 1:20 PM

Last updated Sep 9, 2026

Chicago Bears rank 12th in ESPN power rankings ahead of season opener

Summary

The Chicago Bears open the 2026 NFL season ranked 12th in the latest ESPN power rankings, trailing divisional rivals the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. Despite winning the NFC North last year and reaching the divisional round, the team faces skepticism entering Week 1. Defensively, the Bears are managing injuries within the secondary during training camp but look to integrate rookies such as Dillon Thieneman, Malik Muhammad, and Jordan van den Berg. Offensively, quarterback Caleb Williams enters his second year after establishing a new franchise passing record in 2025. ESPN analysts project Williams to surpass 4,000 passing yards this season, provided he improves on his previous 58.1% completion rate. The team begins its schedule against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday.

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Status Watch

•The Chicago Bears sit at No. 12 in ESPN's preseason power rankings.
•Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions rank higher than Chicago.
•Quarterback Caleb Williams seeks to become the first Bears player to record 4,000 passing yards.
•The team faces the Carolina Panthers in the season opener this Sunday.
•Several rookies are expected to contribute to the defensive rotation this year.

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