The Chicago Bears put on an offensive clinic in their 59-37 win over the Carolina Panthers on the road in Week 1, where it's clear that Ben Johnson has something special in the works.
Things got off to a disastrous start for the Bears, where they turned the ball over on their opening possession and quickly trailed 7-0. From there, it became a shootout between Caleb Williams and Bryce Young, where Chicago and Carolina combined for 55 first-half points. The Bears defense improved in the second half, and the offense was able to continue to score and was able to hold off the Panthers for a big victory.
There's plenty to discuss from this game, including the offensive dominance, the defense's struggles and the historical showing. Our Bears Wire staff
is sharing their thoughts on Chicago's Week 1 win vs. Carolina.
Alyssa Barbieri
The Bears just put the rest of the NFL on notice with an historic showing against the Panthers in their Week 1 win, and it was unlike anything I've ever seen from a Chicago offense in 25 years of following the team. Ben Johnson doubled down on his goal of wanting to be the highest scoring offense in NFL history with his team dropping nearly 60 on a Carolina defense that has plenty of talent.
The offense put on a masterclass performance with dominance on the ground and success through the air for a well balanced attack that produced eight touchdowns and a field goal in the season opener when things are supposed to start slow. The Bears totaled 291 rushing yards between D'Andre Swift (124), Kyle Monangai (100) and Caleb Williams (65) and six rushing touchdowns in what was a dominant effort between the runners, offensive line and blockers. Williams looked poised and comfortable in Year 2 under Ben Johnson, and he showcased his potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL with one of his best games.
Just as we expected, it was the defense that remains the biggest concern after a season opener where they allowed 37 points, 478 yards and struggled to get pressure on the quarterback and cover Carolina's weapons in the secondary. It was actually the rookies in safety Dillon Thieneman and cornerback Malik Muhammad who had the best showings on defense with both coming up big on producing turnovers and stepping up in their first NFL action. The defense was absolutely abysmal in the first half, allowing 24 points in the first half, but they did clean things up in the second half and allowed just 13 points, including a garbage-time touchdown.
The fact that the Bears were able to have that kind of offensive dominance to the tune of 552 yards and eight touchdowns without Colston Loveland, Rome Odunze or Luther Burden having a substantial impact in this game speaks volumes about the potential of this team moving forward. Now, if only the defense can tighten things up, and this Chicago team could be one of the most dangerous in the league.
Brendan Sugrue
I’m not going to lie, I have had dreams before various Bears seasons about them performing in Week 1, and even in the best circumstances, I’ve never conjured up a reality where they would drop 59 points without a single defensive score. Not only does this not feel real, but my dreams can’t even fathom it!
What a performance by the offense. Caleb Williams was a different quarterback than the one we saw the last two opening games. He was accurate, poised, and knew exactly where to put the ball and when to tuck and run. The running game could not be stopped with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai each trading blows, and the receivers were laser focused on every play, whether they were blocking or running routes. The expectations were already high for this group coming into the season, and somehow they exceeded them.
Of course it wasn’t perfect across the board. Too many penalties were committed in all three phases, and the defense in particular struggled to stop Bryce Young and Carolina’s pass catchers. Those were the concerns everyone had entering the season that need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
But this is a game nobody ever thought the Bears were capable of producing. It’s extremely exciting to think what this offense might look like down the road as they establish their identity with Williams and Johnson at the helm. Still, we need to remember that Week 1 is not indicative of what the rest of the season will bring. The Bears will have to prove it every game against a different opponent who will be giving them their best effort. Fortunately, the head coach more than agrees.
Vinnie Parise
The Bears put on one of the most uniquely impressing shows they ever have in the history of the franchise, especially for being Week 1. Sure, they gave up 37 points, but by scoring 59, they sent a message to the entire league right off the jump.
Their defense is leaky and that much was clear following training camp. However, they did manage three turnovers and had a big stop late in the game. If some of the other issues work themselves out as the season moves along, they might be just good enough to support the offense.
On offense, it was a truly remarkable performance for Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, and all of those who contributed to the near 60-point outburst. They want to be the highest scoring offense in the history of the NFL (Ben Johnson’s words), and they certainly got off to a good start in that quest.
The Carolina Panthers are a good team, and the Bears walked all over them offensively. The schedule doesn’t get easier, it gets harder. Going forward, they must build on this victory, and there is a lot of good tape to work with.
Ariana Pensy
No other game in the first week of the NFL season compares to the Bears’ game against the Panthers. Chicago’s offense did not have the greatest start with a lost fumble on the opening drive, but quickly rebounded and did not have a turnover for the rest of the game. Quarterback Caleb Williams looked like an MVP with four total touchdowns and D’Andre Swift’s three rushing touchdowns made his contract extension look even better.
Defensively, there were certainly issues. You are not going to win many games giving up 37 points. Chicago had some missed tackles that turned into big gains for the Panthers offense as well as some blown coverages. But, there were also highlights for the Bears defense including rookie Dillon Thieneman leading Chicago in tackles with 10 including eight solo tackles as well as a pass defended and a quarterback hit. Fellow rookie Malik Muhammad II had Chicago’s only interception of the game. So, there is certainly promise with the rookie class.
The Bears will need to clean some things up between their defense and decreasing their penalties since Chicago had 12 penalties in the opener. But, after their performance against Carolina, they put the NFC North on notice they are ready to defend their title and the NFL on notice they will be a real contender this season.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: The Morning After...the Bears' dominant Week 1 win vs. Panthers
