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The Chicago Bears are looking strong coming off their bye week with sole possession of first place in the NFC North and a top five ranking in most major NFL power rankings. The Bears sit at 4-1 and have looked strong every week except for their Week 2 loss at Green Bay.
In Joel Thorman's power rankings at SB Nation, Chicago comes in at fifth, the same spot they were in prior to their bye week.
5. Chicago Bears (LW: 5, 4-1): 41-3. Bears win the bye week watching other top five teams fall.
As Thorman points out, with the Texans, 49ers, and Patriots all falling last week, Chicago is closer than ever to contending for the number one overall spot.
In other power rankings from around the web, the Bears are rated in a similar spot. ESPN has the Bears ranked sixth, while Brian Billick of Fox Sports has Chicago in the fourth spot, both keeping the Bears in the same position they were last week. Pete Prisco at CBS Sports moved the Bears up three spots this week, to third overall. In total that gives the Bears an average ranking of four-and-a-half.