The Bears (2-2) will host the Panthers (1-3) Sunday at Soldier Field. Here are three things that should increase their chances of winning:
(1) Be as balanced on offense as they were last weekend against the Rams.
After rushing for an average of 72.7 yards in their first three games, the Bears ran for a season-high 131 yards on 28 carries to fuel a 24-18 win over Los Angeles. D'Andre Swift rushed for 93 yards and one touchdown on 16 attempts after being limited to 68 yards on 43 carries in the first three contests of the season. Swift's 36-yard TD run gave the Bears a two-score lead early in the fourth quarter.
Another productive performance on the ground Sunday versus a Panthers defense that ranks 29th in the NFL against the run would help the Bears sustain drives and slow down the pass rush by reducing predictable passing situations.
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams looks to build off last weekend's performance in which he posted career highs in completion percentage (73.9) and passer rating (106.6). Williams connected with DJ Moore for a 9-yard TD pass and did not commit a turnover after throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble the previous week in a 21-16 loss to the Colts in Indianapolis.
In addition to being balanced Sunday against the Panthers, the Bears offense will look to eliminate the pre-snap penalties that have stalled drives so far this season. They're also determined to start faster, given that they've produced just three first-quarter points in their first four games.
"We always want to start fast," said offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. "That's our goal. That's what we're looking to do …If something doesn't go right in the first quarter, let's learn from it and move forward, but always the goal is to going to be to start fast, put points up and try to play with a lead in the game."
The Bears will face a Panthers defense that has lost defensive tackle Derrick Brown and linebacker Shaq Thompson to season-ending injuries. Carolina enters Week 5 ranked last in the NFL in average points allowed (32.3) and red-zone defense, having permitted touchdowns on 11 of 12 possessions (91.7%).
The Bears were back on the practice fields at Halas Hall to continue their preparation for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers.
(2) Contain veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and running back Chuba Hubbard.
The former Bears signal-caller has resuscitated the Panthers offense, helping produce 36 and 24 points in two starts after Carolina mustered 10 and 3 points with second-year pro Bryce Young quarterbacking the unit.
A 14th-year pro who went 3-3 as a Bears starter in 2021, Dalton has thrown for 539 yards with five touchdowns, one interception and a 101.4 passer rating that ranks 10th in the league in his two starts this season.
"The experience factor is huge," said coach Matt Eberflus. "We played a guy that had experience last week (the Rams' Matthew Stafford). So it's important that we do a great job with our disguise and our contours and making sure we are where we're supposed to be when we're supposed to be there and playing fast. Whenever you play an experienced quarterback, it's always a big challenge because of what they've seen, what they've done and Andy's no different."
"This offense that we're going to face this week clearly has gotten itself situated in the last couple of weeks," added defensive coordinator Eric Washington. "The production has been there. The organization has been there. They've moved the ball efficiently the past couple of games … So we're going to have to be really on top of our game to match with this offense, to execute and to do the things that will lead to us winning."
The Bears defense must also limit Hubbard, who has rushed for 114 yards in a win over the Raiders and 104 yards in a loss to the Bengals the past two weeks. The only NFL running backs with more yards than Hubbard's 218 over that span are the Ravens' Derrick Henry (350) and the Eagles' Saquon Barkley (231).
"He's a downhill player," Washington said of Hubbard. "Tremendous contact balance. And so you see this young man breaking tackles. You see a lot of yards after contact. So, it puts the onus on us to be very good with our tacking and our gap control. The other thing about this young man is he will find the void in a run defense. And it could be as a cut-back runner, it could be at the point of attack. If there's a void, he's going to find it, he's getting downhill right now, and as a result there are big plays."
(3) Williams to keep taking what the defense gives him.
The rookie quarterback showed the awareness and poise of a veteran last Sunday against the Rams by completing checkdown passes when the defense took away deep routes. He connected on 15 of 15 throws under 15 air yards for 126 yards, highlighted by completions of 10 yards to Rome Odunze, 14 yards to Roschon Johnson, 10 yards to Cole Kmet and 11 yards to Swift.
"When I was in college, I think that was a knock on my game," Williams said. "I think everybody wanted to say I don't take checkdowns. But you also have to adapt to the team. You also have to adapt to the situation. It's always a growing and learning process and I think I've done a pretty solid job of finding checkdowns and understanding that game is so huge for us and our offense and keeping us on the football field. I think it's something I've gotten better with."
"Every quarterback wants a big play," Moore added. "But if it's not there or they can't see it, the checkdown's going to be open because everybody else is downfield. You never go broke taking a profit. That's what my coach says, so that's what we're living by, and I get it."
The approach has contributed to the offense's recent success. The unit has generated five touchdowns in the last five quarters after scoring just three TDs in the first 11 quarters of the season. In addition, Williams has improved his completion percentage in each game he's played from 48.3 to 62.2 to 63.5 to 73.9.
Over the last six quarters, he has completed 70.8% of his passes with three TDs, one interception and a 99.9 passer rating. In his first 10 quarters, he connected on 57.0% of his passes with no TDs, three interceptions and a 57.6 rating.
"Caleb's done a nice job of seeing what the defense presents and taking what the play gives him," Waldron said. "Moving forward it's about not pressing to find big plays, not pressing to find explosives but letting them occur within the context of what the defense is showing each individual snap."
