SB Nation's Week 11 NFL power rankings have been released, and Joel Thorman is now a believer in the Chicago Bears. After ranking the the team 13th overall last week, the Bears' impressive 37-13 win over the fellow wild-card hopeful Detroit Lions was enough for Thorman to move the Bears into the top 10. Here's what he had to say:
8. Chicago Bears (6-3, LW: 13): The Bears defense is playing at another level right now and that was clear when they whooped up on the Lions. They won't catch Green Bay but they can secure a wildcard spot.
The Bears have been trending upward on the strength of defensive talents Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Julius Peppers and Charles Tillman, as the team is currently on a four-game winning streak, and has won five of their last six contests. The Bears also have a conference record (6-3) that is better than every other NFC team except for the Green Bay Packers (7-0) and the San Francisco 49ers (6-1).
The Bears are currently the only NFC team that has yet to play an out of conference game, but that is about to change. Over the next four weeks of the season, the Bears will go head up against the AFC West. They start at home against the San Diego Chargers in week 12, and then play @ Oakland Raiders, vs. Kansas City Chiefs and @ Denver Broncos.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago Bears be sure to visit Windy City Gridiron. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.