The Bears were on a bye in Week 7, providing a golden opportunity to survey the NFL in a detailed and meaningful way.

A full slate of games, with some highlights between Detroit and Minnesota and San Francisco and K.C. allowed some top teams to clash and naturally create separation amongst themselves.

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We’ve seen that happen at several pivot points, important clashes between top teams or those in the middle class that help add realism to these power rankings. Ordering gets a bit easier at this point in the year, with more confidence in selections.

It’s easier to keep the 49ers and Cowboys lower despite sterling preseason reputations. It’s easier to believe the Ravens, Steelers and Vikings belong closer to the top.

While some trepidation remains about where the Bears fit, it sure seems like they’re going to be competitive throughout the year.

Now let’s take a look at how the NFL shakes out after seven weeks of the 2024 season:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-0): Pat Mahomes throws two picks. Travis Kelce doesn’t look the same. The Chiefs still win. Wow.

2. Detroit Lions (5-1): If they end up with a Super Bowl ring, we can say the Lions won the Goff/Stafford exchange.

3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Derrick Henry has found the fountain of youth.

4. Minnesota Vikings (5-1): Vikes lost a game, but they didn’t look bad. Minnesota’s a long-term contender.

5. Buffalo Bills (5-2): The Amari Cooper deal was a good one for Buffalo.  

6. Green Bay Packers (4-2): Three NFC North teams in the top six. Yikes.

7. Houston Texans (4-2): Rare that C.J. Stroud has a bad game. Week 7 might count as one.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2): Mike Tomlin said Russell Wilson was excellent vs. NYJ. Think he meant George Pickens.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2): Saquon Barkley was a Giant in his return to New York. See what I did there?

10.  Washington Commanders (5-2): Marcus Mariota is legit the ideal backup for Jayden Daniels in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

11. Seattle Seahawks (4-3): What a rebound by the Seahawks, who look like real contenders in the NFC West.

12. Atlanta Falcons (4-3): That Falcons defense/pass rush doesn’t look as good as it should.  

13. Chicago Bears (4-2): Can the Bears keep rolling? The competition only gets tougher from here.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3): Mike Evans and Chris Godwin got hurt. Injuries stink.

15. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4): Bengals always warm up when temperatures get cold.

16. San Francisco 49ers (3-4): Injuries have decimated a great team. Always sad to see.

17. Dallas Cowboys (3-3): Cowboys better figure it out and fast, or America’s Team will implode.

18. Denver Broncos (4-3): Sorry. We’re just not Broncos believers. Not yet, anyway.

19. Los Angeles Chargers (3-3): Someone tell the Bolts winning is easier by scoring touchdowns.

20. Indianapolis Colts (4-3): How are the Colts above .500? Like, that’s a legit question. Can’t figure it out.

21. Arizona Cardinals (2-4): They look competitive one week, awful the next. Arizona’s an enigma.

22. New York Jets (2-4): Davante Adams will help in the long run. He’s not a miracle cure.

23. Los Angeles Rams (1-4): Rams have reportedly been getting calls about Cooper Kupp. I would politely decline trade talks.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5): Still think there’s a good team somewhere in all the struggles and shattered confidence.

25. New Orleans Saints (2-5): The season might be over by the time Derek Carr comes back.  

26. Miami Dolphins (2-4): When does Tua come back. Tyreek and Jaylen would like to know.

27. New York Giants (2-5): Looking at Drew Lock as a possibly better quarterback option could be considered rock bottom.

28. Cleveland Browns (1-6): Browns lost Deshaun Watson for the season. And maybe got better.  

29. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4): Dennis Allen. Jack Del Rio. Jon Gruden. Josh McDaniels. Antonio Pierce. Mark Davis ain’t good at hiring coaches, man.

30. New England Patriots (1-6): Jerod Mayo said his guys were playing ‘soft.’ The Pats HC got the word wrong. He was looking for “untalented.”

31. Tennessee Titans (1-5): Brian Callahan says he’s going to evaluate Will Levis over the course of the season. That sounds like a tank job to me.

32. Carolina Panthers (1-6): It’s no longer a hot take to suggest the Panthers might not win again.

Follow Bears Insider Scott Bair on X @ScottBairNFL. Also, a Bair Mail is coming up on Wednesday! Join the conversation by submitting a mailbag question or comment to mailbag@marqueesportsnetwork.com for a chance to be included in this relatively new content series.