The NFC North is crowded at the top, and after seven weeks, the Chicago Bears find themselves right in the middle of the race.
A 5-2 start is nothing to shrug off, but the Bears are also stuck in a division where every team has a winning record through seven weeks. That’s the same distinction the NFC North shares with the AFC North, and it’s why the standings alone don’t tell the full story.
The Minnesota Vikings are still the standard in the division. They’re the only undefeated team left in the NFL, and they’ve already handled their NFC North business well enough to own the tie-break edge, with Detroit the lone exception.
Chicago’s first shot at them ended with Caleb Williams sidelined by a hamstring injury, and the rematch doesn’t come until Week 18. Depending on how the season unfolds, that could end up being the game that decides everything.
Chicago’s own rise has been fueled by Williams coming back into the lineup. His return has given the offense a needed spark, and Ben Johnson has brought exactly the kind of edge the Bears seem to want.
There have been bumps along the way, but the offense has kept moving forward. The run game remains one of the league’s best, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Chicago finished the year as the NFL’s top rushing team.
Detroit is right there too. The Lions have one of the most dangerous ground attacks in football, and Jahmyr Gibbs is a big reason why. Their 4-2 mark through seven weeks includes their bye, and the Bears will see them again on Thanksgiving in Detroit in what should be a divisional fight with real weight.
And even though Green Bay sits last in the division for now, nobody is writing the Packers off. They opened slowly, but they’re still loaded enough to matter.
Bears fans still remember the Week 5 loss, a 31-7 beatdown in which Caleb Williams did not play. Even without him, Green Bay looked sharp that day, and with the talent and coaching they have, they have every chance to climb back into the mix.
In Other News...
Montez Sweats Costly Suspension Just Changed A Bears Conversation
Montez Sweats two-game suspension was a blunt reminder of how quickly one of the Bears most important defenders can change the conversation around a defense built to lean on him. Chicago got through his absence, but the episode still landed hard because Sweat is not just another rotational piece - he is one of the players the Bears count on to set the tone up front, and the timing of his violation left the team dealing with more than just a temporary hole in the lineup.
Sweat apologized and took full responsibility for the positive test, saying the violation was accidental and stemmed from something he did on his own. The fallout went well beyond the missed games, too, with forfeited game checks and a major hit to the structure of his deal, leaving the Bears to weigh both the immediate football impact and the longer-term business side of a situation they would rather not revisit. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Backfield Suddenly Has A Kyle Monangai Problem
Kyle Monangais early-season momentum has been slowed by an injury that has already kept him out for three weeks, and the Bears have had to keep leaning on other backs to hold the ground game together. Monangai had gotten off to a strong start before the thumb and turf toe issue, which made his absence more noticeable as Chicago has tried to sort out its backfield week by week.
The latest roster move only adds to the sense that this is not a short-term hiccup. Chicago signed running back Zavier Scott from the practice squad and waived defensive back Nick McCloud, a shuffle that suggests the Bears are preparing for more time without Monangai rather than banking on an immediate return. For a team that had hoped to build on his promising start, the next update on his status suddenly matters a lot. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Poles Is Already Under Pressure After Bears Missed Two Targets
The Bears had their eyes on two of the biggest names to move in the latest trade talks, but Indianapolis ended up dealing offensive guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to San Francisco instead. Chicago reportedly was in the mix for both players, a sign Ryan Poles is still pushing to upgrade the roster, but the work did not turn into a deal.
Buckner going to the 49ers for a fourth-round pick only adds to the feeling that the Bears were close to landing a major reinforcement. With trade season still active, Poles is continuing to explore other possibilities, including Maxx Crosby and Khalil Mack, and the pressure only grows as Chicago tries to turn interest into actual help. [Read more 🡒]