NFL Power Rankings, Week 16: Bears celebrating, Patriots fading
10-4. Previous: . Chicago Bears. 4. team. 57.
Recap: Back in Week 1 on a Sunday night at Lambeau Field, the Bears let one get away against the Green Bay Packers. Now the team was not only in position to get revenge for that 24-23 loss, a victory over Aaron Rodgers and his team would give Chicago its first NFC North title since 2010. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky wound up being very efficient, hitting on 20-of-28 passes for 235 yards and two scores without a touchdown. Jordan Howard added 19 carries for 60 yards and Tarik Cohen made his presence felt on offense and special teams. But it was a day for the Bears’ defense, who sacked Rodgers five times and picked him off in the end zone late in the game.
Next Week: The Bears make their way to San Francisco for the first time since 2014 as the team clashes with the 49ers for the fifth straight year. A season ago at Soldier Field (Week 13), one-time Bears’/current Niners’ kicker Robbie Gould connected on five field goals and the 49ers handed Chicago a 15-14 loss.
Playoff hopes: Perhaps it was only fitting that the Bears wrapped up their first division title since 2010 with a win over a team that had been the club’s biggest albatross for far too long. Chicago’s NFC North title also puts the team in the playoffs for the first time since ’10 and ends a four-year streak of last-place finishes for the club.
Next: No. 3