CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears righted their season's ship last Sunday at Soldier Field, defeating a banged up but dangerous Los Angeles Rams team 24-18. The offense made strides, as did Caleb Williams, en route to finishing the first quarter-ish of the season at 2-2.
Today, the Carolina Panthers came to town. The Bears and Panthers will be linked forever with one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history. We all know the story at this point.
The Panthers visited last year, where #1 overall pick Bryce Young battled with rookie UDFA Tyson Bagent en route to a 16-13 Bears win (it was as ugly as the score indicated). Now that the Bears have taken their QB of the future, the storylines would've been beautiful, pitting Young against Bears' prized rookie Caleb Williams.
Alas, the previous Panthers regime is gone, Young was benched, and former Bear Andy Dalton took over the reins. Not as juicy of a story, but certainly still a crucial game for Chicago's optics and early-season playoff hopes. On paper, the Bears were decidedly the better team. They should've taken advantage, at home, against an inferior opponent.
And in the end, the Bears dominated from the middle of the first quarter onwards, en route to a blowout win at Soldier Field. A tremendous performance in all three phases!
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on X (Twitter) @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. Sheesh, it's about as bad a start as the Bears could've scripted. After a first drive 3 and out by the Bears' defense, Caleb Williams almost thew a pick-six on his first pass, and was sacked on third down to match 3 and outs right away.
And then the Panthers marched right down from midfield to score a touchdown. A 4th and 1 conversion followed by a highway express lane to the house for Chuba Hubbard from 38 yards. No one came within a mile of that run fit. Panthers' OL has been good this year, and it's shown up early for Carolina.
2. Well, Caleb put the first drive struggles in the rear-view mirror quickly. A strong drive from the offense, well-balanced, featuring D'Andre Swift and the passing game allowed them to answer quickly. The touchdown play was beautiful - a hurry-up action to catch the defense napping, and DJ Moore was all along down field on a crossing route. Caleb calmly found him in stride for a touchdown. That's the way you want to respond and pick up the defense.
Some early success on offense -- in the first quarter, finally! -- to build on.
3. After a nice stop by the Bears' defense (Gervon Dexter and DeMarcus Walker with a key sack), the Bears marched down the field in yet another beautiful display of balance and creativity. DJ Moore, D'Andre Swift and Caleb Williams, powered by the OL, go back to back drives for touchdowns.
Credit Shane Waldron - he's listened to his players and implemented solutions early in the season. Things are starting to click.
4. Bears' defense really playing well now and recovering after that rough second drive. A Bears turnover on down was sandwiched by a quick 3 and out and then a fumble recovery by Gervon Dexter. A couple notes:
- Matt Eberflus has really timed up some key blitzes lately on second down to make third downs tough for opposing offenses. Brisker's key sack on Stafford last week, and then Kyler Gordon on Dalton today caused momentum-shifting third-and-longs.
- Gervon Dexter with a key HITS play to recover the fumble. He's really a good player.
4. D'Andre Swift. He's been exactly what the Bears envisioned the last two weeks - being a huge weapon in both the run and passing games. A three-play drive after the turnover - all to Swift - results in another touchdown.
I loved Waldron's goal line package - using Kramer again. The TD run was Kramer in motion at the snap, which is hilarious.
5. Tyrique Stevenson with a couple of CLUTCH plays before halftime to give the Bears' offense another chance to "double dip." He broke up a pass near the sideline in Bears territory on second down, and then gloved up Diontae Johnson on a 4th down comeback route to turn it over on downs. Teams won't throw at Jaylon Johnson for good reason, and Stevenson continues to ascend after a tough matchup with Nico Collins a few weeks ago.
6. Caleb. Williams.
After a nice throw to Cole Kmet on a hole shot that could've been a touchdown had it been a better throw, Caleb manipulated the deep safety and threw a DIME to DJ Moore for a touchdown to put the Bears up 27-7. It was a gorgeous throw and the kind of play you dream of an elite QB making to crush the soul of the opposing team.
Funnily enough, the Panthers got a huge gain to Jalen Coker (broken play and bad tackle attempt) right before halftime to set them up field goal range, but former Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro sailed his attempt wide left.
27-7 at halftime. Twenty-seven to seven. Your Chicago Bears.
<HALFTIME>
7. Kevin Byard has been absolutely fantastic for the Bears this season. A very smart pickup from Ryan Poles early in the offseason and he's paid outstanding dividends. That interception on the Panthers' first drive of the second half was a sensational job of ball tracking while 1 on 1 on the receiver. The upgrade on a declining Eddie Jackson has been extremely noticeable.
8. Andrew Billings has been a sensational signing for the Bears. Earned his extension last season and - by the looks of it - it's an absolute steal. His versatility to change spots with Dexter and play 3-T or NT has been a game changer for the defense.
9. Over 400 yards of offense for the Bears today. Much of that damage came in an explosive first half, but they've been in control since the Hubbard touchdown. Another very good game for Waldron and Williams to build on heading into a big game in London before the bye week.
10. A Chuba Hubbard fumble on a nice tackle by Tremaine Edmunds probably seals the deal here with 7.5 minutes left in the game. A dominant performance from this unit. Taking care of business against a unit that was ripe to be potentially frisky.
11. Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze to go over 300 yards passing for the second time this season. And another touchdown from Roschon Johnson to put this game officially away. (Again from The Kramer Package.)
Jaycee Horn and Matt Pryor went after it in the end zone after that play, with both players being ejected. I can understand the frustration from Horn - things are rough - really rough - in Carolina.
The Bears will enjoy this one even more, given how much they've gotten under the Panthers' collective skin.
Bryce Young took over for Andy Dalton on the next drive to finish the game out. There's something so, so sad about that.
12. The Bears fly across the pond to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The Bears have plenty to build on from the last two weeks, and the hope is this success travels with them against a Jags team that has been woeful to start the season. The Bears can't be caught looking ahead to a bye week and then a road matchup against fellow rookie phenom Jayden Daniels. Take care of business.
Early prediction: Bears 24, Jaguars 20.
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