The Chicago Bears Mercifully Got The One Win They Needed

Everybody can tell the 2023 season is lost. However, the Chicago Bears still have important business ahead of them. One of the biggest was working to ensure that their chances of landing the #1 pick for the second straight season stayed high. For that to happen, they needed to pull off a victory on Thursday Night Football against the lowly Carolina Panthers. That wouldn't be easy. The team was coming off a deflating loss in New Orleans four days prior, where they had multiple opportunities to win in the 4th quarter. Tyson Bagent threw it away with two interceptions and a lost fumble.

True to form, the Bears made nothing about the game look easy. The offense was disjointed all night. Bagent couldn't find a rhythm through the air. Thankfully, the defense played well enough, sacking Bryce Young three times and holding Carolina to 43 yards rushing. That and a clutch 1st down from Darnell Mooney helped to drain the clock in a tight 16-13 win. There wasn't much about the game to suggest the Bears are any good, but it did ensure the Panthers move to 1-8 and back in control of the #1 draft spot.

That is important news since Chicago holds their 1st round pick next year.

The Chicago Bears should feel good about their chances.

Carolina is in rough shape. Chicago was one of the few truly bad teams they had left on their schedule. That loss makes their remaining eight games seem all the more daunting, especially as injuries continue to mount. Here is the slate of games.

• vs. Dallas Cowboys
• at Tennessee Titans
• at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• at New Orleans Saints
• vs. Atlanta Falcons
• vs. Green Bay Packers
• at Jacksonville Jaguars
• vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There is a very real possibility that the Panthers won't win another game this season. Dallas and Jacksonville are playoff contenders. Atlanta and New Orleans are division rivals and better teams. Tampa Bay is more talented, as is Green Bay. Finishing 1-16 would guarantee at least the #2 pick for the Chicago Bears. The rest would depend on what happens with the Arizona Cardinals, who are also 1-8. They're about to get Kyler Murray and James Conner back from injuries, so the chances of them getting a couple wins down the stretch is possible.

Don't be surprised if this victory, ugly as it was, goes a long way in setting up another premium draft slot for this team.