Here’s the Quick -n- Dirrty…
- Bears defeat the Carolina Panthers 16-13 in a low-scoring, boring game
- Defense played well overall, getting 3 sacks and stopping the run
- Offense relied heavily on the run game with Foreman, didn’t take many shots downfield
- Several missed throws by Fields show he lacks confidence in his deep ball
- Special teams blunder allowed a Panthers TD return, but Bears held on for the win
Support BearsMediaCo WHILE you support our Beloved Bears by clicking HERE to shop at Fanatics for ALL your favorite Gear!
Hey there, fellow Bears Fans!
The Chicago Bears Pull Off the Win Against the Carolina Panthers in a Lackluster Performance.
The Chicago Bears managed to defeat the Carolina Panthers by a score of 16-13 last night, improving their record to 3-7 on the season. As a diehard Bears fan who loves to keep it real, I have to say it was a boring game between two subpar teams, but a win is a win. The defense clamped down when it mattered most, while the offense relied on a strong rushing attack from the likes of Dante Foreman to grind out the victory. There were plenty of missed opportunities and questionable play calls from offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, but the Bears did just enough to come away with the close win at home.
Foreman Leads the Charge in Bears Rushing Attack
The undisputed MVP of this game was running back Dante Foreman. He was fed the ball 21 times and churned out 80 yards on the ground with one touchdown. It was a workhorse performance from Foreman, who ran with determination and grit against a porous Carolina run defense. Roquan Smith and the defensive unit did a great job shutting down the Panthers ground game, holding them to just 57 total rushing yards. With the run game working, Bears quarterback Justin Fields attempted just 18 passes, focusing on short and intermediate throws rather than challenging the Panthers secondary deep.
Defense Clamps Down in Second Half
After giving up 10 points in the first half, the Bears defense really tightened the screws coming out of halftime. They allowed just a field goal over the final two quarters, sacking Panthers QB P.J. Walker three times on the night. Robert Quinn came up with a huge sack that forced a Panthers punt late in the fourth quarter. Kyler Gordon played with great speed and urgency, locking down his coverage assignments in the secondary. Even though they allowed a few first downs on an embarrassing defensive series in the fourth quarter, overall it was a strong showing from Matt Eberflus’ unit when it mattered most.
Offensive Play Calling Leaves a Lot to Be Desired
While I’m pumped the Bears took care of business to get the win, I have to call it like I see it – offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s play calling was questionable at best. He tried too hard to outsmart the Panthers defense instead of leaning on the running game. There were trick plays like double passes, end arounds and reverses that resulted in negative yards and killed promising drives. Getsy has to let Justin Fields use his improvisational abilities and trust him to make big throws downfield. The offense lacked explosiveness last night. But the rushing attack seems to be coming together, which is critical for Fields’ development the rest of the year.
Missed Opportunities Holding Bears Offense Back
As happy as I am for the win, the Bears offense is still leaving too many points on the field. Justin Fields overthrew wide open receivers multiple times last night, including a likely touchdown pass to Darnell Mooney in the first half. Fields finished with just 167 passing yards and no touchdowns. His deep ball accuracy has to improve if this offense is going to take the next step. The offensive line also allowed some pressure, forcing Fields to scramble outside the pocket. With weapons like Mooney and Cole Kmet, there’s no reason for Fields to only have one pass play over 15 yards against this Panthers defense. Missed opportunities for big plays held this offense back.
Special Teams Breakdown Nearly Cost Bears the Game
If I had to pick one area of concern from last night’s game, it would definitely be the special teams unit. The Bears allowed a Panthers punt return for touchdown in the fourth quarter which nearly cost them the game. That was an epic breakdown in coverage by the usually stout Bears special teams. Kicker Cairo Santos also missed a routine 40-yard field goal, one of his rare misses inside 45 yards. With most Bears games this year being one-possession affairs, they have almost no margin for error. The special teams mistakes must get cleaned up ASAP. This unit needs to stay disciplined in their lanes and execute the fundamentals.
The Bears Escape with a Win, But Plenty of Work Still Needed
At the end of the day, all that matters is the Bears found a way to sneak past the equally struggling Panthers to improve to 3-7 on the year. The defense and running game are trending in the right direction, which provides a solid formula to compete in games. But there are still so many missed assignments, costly penalties and just overall sloppy play on offense that is holding this team back. The coaching staff needs to put Justin Fields in better positions to succeed and have a more aggressive, attacking mindset. The Bears should be able to compete against any opponent remaining on their schedule, but they must clean up the self-inflicted mistakes to take the next step. I’ll enjoy this win, but it’s clear there’s a long road ahead for the Bears to get where we want to be. Just taking it one game at a time and staying faithful!
Bear Down Bears fans! and as always… PEACE!
Leave A Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.