The Chicago Bears didn't win their preseason opener, falling 23-13 to the Carolina Panthers. That wasn't the endgame though. Their goal was to see progress from players across the roster, finding out who deserves consideration to either get more playing time or to make the final 53-man roster. They got plenty of answers over the course of those three hours. So who came out of the game feeling pretty good and who should start sweating?
Chicago Bears plenty to like (and dislike) about the opener
Winners:
David Montgomery
The Bears came into the opener hoping to see their prized top draft choice showcase the ability that compelled them to trade up to get him. They weren't disappointed. It took a series or two for Montgomery to get going, but once he settled down, the running back started making plays. Several plays. In fact, he was the driving force behind their only touchdown of the night.
It started with a 23-yard reception on 2nd and 20 to get a first down. Then it was a nifty run up the middle that saw him duck under a defender to get four yards when he should've been stopped for none. Last but not least, he stopped on a run up the middle, bounced outside on a beautiful cut and ran in for a 7-yard touchdown. If Bears fans weren't sure if Montgomery could replace Jordan Howard or not, they got some welcome reassurance.
Elliott Fry
The kicker competition was front and center for the Bears going into this game. Any mistake would be magnified. Thankfully for Elliott Fry, he picked a good time to have his first clean performance of the summer. The former AAF kicker started things off with an extra point attempt that was good. Something that earned him a standing ovation from the crowd. His biggest moment though came a bit later
In a remarkably fitting twist of fate, Fry's most notable kick came on a 43-yard attempt before the end of the first half. The same exact distance Cody Parkey missed from just a few months prior to cost the Bears a playoff win. The kick was perfect, capping a big night for Fry as he seemed to seize decisive control of the competition.
Ian Bunting
The winner for the weirdest performance of the preseason has to go to Ian Bunting. The tight end came into Chicago with zero fanfare, having accomplished little at Michigan or Cal before becoming an undrafted free agent. Chicago liked his athletic upside though and felt he had something to offer. He certainly looked like a rookie with a game that included a missed block that led to a sack, a holding penalty, and a fumble.
So how can he be on the winner's side? He was easily the most explosive passing target the Bears had on the evening. Bunting made three catches for 77 yards, showcasing his ability to not only get open but that he had the strong hands too. He also demonstrated the strength and willingness to run hard after the catch. Something that was absent last year from Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen.
Josh Woods
Expectations are the Bears likely won't make a change to their top four at inside linebacker. However, that may prove to be a more difficult decision than they thought. That's because Josh Woods was one of the best players on the field for the defense most of the night. Not only did he finish with five tackles including one for a loss, he also delivered one of their two turnovers with a forced fumble.
Woods is a fascinating name. An undrafted free agent out of Maryland, he was on the Bears' practice squad in 2018. He demonstrates a nice blend of size, athleticism, and instinct. Of all the reserve linebackers who played that night, he was the one who stood out the most. It will be interesting to see if Chuck Pagano wants to make a change to the depth chart.
Losers:
Eddy Pineiro
The former Florida and Oakland Raiders kicker certainly came into the Bears kicking competition with a lot of swagger. He seemed like a kid with indomitable self-confidence that he could hit every kick. His first foray to Soldier Field during Family Fest made it seem that way as he went a perfect 12-of-12. Sadly for him, that stadium can be a cruel mistress to those who can't handle the pressure.
After Fry hit the first kick of the evening, Pineiro was up next. It was a prime opportunity. A 48-yard field goal attempt that would allow him to showcase that big leg of his. There was no wind. The snap and hold were good. Then Pineiro pushed it wide left. The timing could not have been worse for him. It was the opener. Everybody was watching. It was his first try and he blew it.
Nick Kwiatkoski
The good news for Kwiatkoski is his status on the roster is unlikely to change much this year. He'll remain a trusted backup and special teams contributor as he always has. Unfortunately, his hopes for becoming a starter down the road took another serious hit in this game. Despite being solid against the run all night, the fourth-year linebacker was badly exposed in coverage.
Carolina went at him multiple times in the first half. Every time it looked like Kwiatkoski was out of position and forced to give chase. Something that revealed just how dangerously slow he is at times. Suffice to say, the gulf between him and the starters is fairly significant in that area of the game. Not the best situation in a division loaded with quarterbacks.
Chris Tabor
One coach who certainly didn't come out looking the best from this game was special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. His units made a bevy of mistakes all night long. It wasn't just the missed field goal by Pineiro. There were some major concerns regarding the Bears' punt and kickoff coverage units. Not only were they ineffective, but they were also undisciplined.
Routinely the Panthers were able to create big lanes for their returners, which included a 57-yarder by Terry Godwin to set up their first touchdown. The coverage was bad and the tackling was even worse. This is humbling for Tabor considering his unit was 10th in punt return yards allowed last year. He'll have to get it fixed.
Tyler Bray
The Bears elected to keep only two quarterbacks last year and it feels like that is likely to happen again. It's not like Tyler Bray made any sort of impression that suggests he deserves a roster spot. The third-string backup looked every bit like it against the Panthers, connecting on just 8-of-17 passes for 85. It was a frustrating performance. One where he took unnecessary sacks and missed a lot of big-play opportunities.
Two plays that stood out likely would've been touchdowns. One was a deep ball. Marvin Hall had his man beat down the field. Bray underthrew it, forcing Hall to come back and the pass fell incomplete. The other was a corner fade to Bunting in the end zone. Had Bray put the ball higher, the tight end easily could've outjumped the smaller corner covering him. Instead it was a line drive and the corner knocked it away.
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