(670 The Score) Did you notice that distinctly not-summer smell when you went outside this morning? Did you feel that nippy breeze rustling through the increasingly orange- and red-tinted leaves? Have you recently found yourself ordering venti apple crisp macchiatos? All of these can only mean one thing: NFL power rankings are back. Real ones!
And alongside all the usual touchstones of autumn comes another seasonal tradition that can't be ignored: getting mad, on the web, about said power rankings. Like the first botched punt of a September Big Ten game, these power rankings are a cherished part of our fall discourse -- it wouldn't be Football Szn without them and the anger they elicit. So here they are: the first Bears power rankings of the season. Let's see where they stand in regards to the rest of the NFL. Get those tweets ready.
NFL.com: No. 21
"I guess you can give the Bears some credit for being true to their word: All offseason, we were told that Andy Dalton would be the team's starting quarterback in Week 1, and that's exactly where we're headed for the Sunday Night Football showcase against the Rams. Dalton enters the season on top of the depth chart, but the veteran might be in the least enviable position of any starter in the league. The entire fan base wants Justin Fields to play, and those fans will let Matt Nagy and the Bears know it by the season's first three-and-out. Dalton might be the only QB1 in the league who doesn't have the support of his own fan base."
Washington Post: No. 20
"It’s only a matter of time until rookie Justin Fields takes over for Andy Dalton at quarterback. The Bears could be a very interesting team once that happens."
USA Today: No. 26
"They'll face pass rushers Aaron Donald, Trey Hendrickson and Garrett in September ... a trio that could serve weekly reminders of Chicago's self-inflicted O-line issues."
Sports Illustrated: No. 23
"By sticking steadfastly to the Andy Dalton plan, the Bears have become one of the more interesting teams in the league. When will Justin Fields start? Everyone will just keep asking until it happens."
The Ringer: No. 22
"The long-term future looks bright for the Bears with Justin Fields behind center, but in the short term, things could get ugly. Thanks in part to the team’s sieve-like offensive line, it’s looking like we’re going to get the Andy Dalton experience to start the season. An under-siege Dalton doesn’t exactly sound like a recipe for success, even with the team’s defense providing a solid foundation."
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Yahoo! Sports: No. 23
"I'm not sure there's one good reason to start Andy Dalton. Maybe to protect Justin Fields as long as possible from playing behind a bad offensive line, but I doubt that's Matt Nagy's reason. It's just a weird decision from a coach already on the hot seat. Everyone knows Fields is the better option, except the guy making the call."
CBS Sports: No. 23
"Andy Dalton opens the season as the starting quarterback, but it's only a matter of time/games before Justin Fields takes over. The Bears are the third team in their division, which is why Fields should be playing soon."
ESPN: No. 22
"The Bears badly need (Robert) Quinn to have an impactful year rushing the passer opposite Khalil Mack. Quinn's first season in Chicago was forgettable. After signing a big free-agent deal that included $30 million in guarantees, the veteran had just two sacks. The Bears want to see a return on their investment from Quinn. So far, not so good. Quinn has been sidelined with back issues for a good portion of training camp."
Sporting News: No. 22
"The Bears are starting with Andy Dalton at QB, but everyone expects a transition to rookie first-rounder Justin Fields sooner rather than later. As a returning playoff team with a decent running game and still solid defense, Chicago has an OK floor, but the big change may lead to a few lumps before re-emerging as a contender in 2022."