Week 9 NFL Power Rankings: Bears Get A Slight Bump During Their Bye Week

Even though the Bears (4-3) were idle this week coming off their 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL's annual London showcase game in week 7, the NFL sands have still managed to shift beneath their feet. Within the NFC North, the Lions dominated Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos 45-10, while Christian Ponder and the Minnesota Vikings edged Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers 24-21.

It was difficult to justify moving the Bears too far upward, considering teams ahead of them were either on bye as well or were victorious over the weekend. One particular game of note for the NFC playoff picture and the NFL Power Rankings scene was the game the New York Giants squeezed out against the woeful Miami Dolphins. 

Here's what they have to say about the Bears in the SB Nation Week 9 Power Rankings:

13. Chicago Bears (4-3, LW: 14): This is the time to make a stand on the season. Games coming up in Philly and against the Lions and Chargers will tell you who this team is.    

The upcoming Monday Night showdown against the Eagles (3-4) will go a long way in telling fans where the Bears stand in the NFC playoff scene.

For more on this and other Chicago Bears analysis, check out Windy City Gridiron and SB Nation Chicago. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.