NFL Power Rankings entering Week 13: Bears can legitimize their run on Black Friday vs. Eagles, who took a tumble

17 hours ago7 min read2 comments

The Chicago Bears, sitting at a glossy 8-3, have crafted a record that demands a double-take, a statistical anomaly built on the shaky foundation of beating bad teams and surviving nail-biters. Of their eight victories, a staggering seven have come against teams languishing at or below.500, with their most impressive feat being a narrow three-point triumph over a Pittsburgh Steelers squad led by backup Mason Rudolph. This is a team that has mastered the art of the close shave, with wins by 1, 1, 5, 4, 2, and 3 points, often against the league's bottom-feeders like the Raiders and Commanders.The result is a perplexing -3 point differential and a 22nd-place ranking in DVOA, a metric that measures efficiency and screams 'regression candidate. ' It’s the football equivalent of a house of cards—impressive from a distance, but structurally vulnerable.This brings us to the crucible of Black Friday, a high-stakes showdown against the wounded Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles, also 8-3, are reeling from a catastrophic collapse, blowing a 21-0 lead to the Dallas Cowboys.For Chicago, this isn't merely about playoff positioning; it's a legitimacy check. A win in Philadelphia would be their first truly resonant victory, a statement that they are more than just beneficiaries of a soft schedule and fortunate bounces.It’s their chance to prove that the analytics are lying, that their record is built on grit, not luck, and to silence the chorus of critics who see them as a paper tiger. The broader NFL landscape after Week 12 is a tapestry of rising and falling fortunes.The Los Angeles Rams, now 9-2, have seized the top spot with a dominant performance, looking every bit the NFC's team to beat. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles' dramatic tumble in these rankings reflects profound offensive concerns, reminiscent of great teams that suddenly lose their identity.In the AFC, the New England Patriots continue their methodical march at 10-2, while the Denver Broncos, at 9-2, are a fascinating under-the-radar story, their only two losses coming as time expired. The league is a constant recalibration of power, where a single game, like this Bears-Eagles clash, can redefine a team's entire narrative and either validate a surprising run or expose its fragile core.

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