Bears’ protection leads strategy to win over Panthers

CHICAGO — It was apparent early Thursday evening that protection and particular groups had been going to play large roles because the offenses of the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers had been underwhelming. Ultimately, the Bears’ protection was decisive in a 16-13 win.

It was a sport that featured key items from a blockbuster offseason commerce, when the Bears despatched the No. 1 total choose within the draft to Carolina for DJ Moore and a bundle of picks, together with the Panthers’ first choose in 2024. The Panthers used that to draft quarterback Bryce Younger, who did not do sufficient to get Carolina its second win.

Chicago, in the meantime, was led by undrafted rookie QB Tyson Bagent, who’s 2-2 as a starter whereas Justin Fields recovers from a dislocated proper thumb.

Chicago Bears

Few video games fall right into a must-win class for a group with seven losses. Given what’s at stake within the 2024 NFL draft with the Bears proudly owning the Panthers first-round choose, the end result Thursday was pivotal for measuring present development and future draft positioning.

The Bears considerably elevated their probabilities to earn the No. 1 total choose. In keeping with ESPN Analytics, the win provides Chicago a 42% likelihood for the highest choose, which is the very best within the NFL.

After Chicago was held to 3 discipline objectives within the first half, coach Matt Eberflus proclaimed his Bears “had some issues up our sleeve” for the second half. Whereas the magnitude of these issues is debatable, the Bears did sufficient to win in Week 10 on an evening when Eberflus’ protection confirmed vital indicators of enchancment.

The Bears have 10 days earlier than they journey to Detroit to face the 6-2 Lions and will very nicely have Fields again beneath heart for the primary time since Oct. 15.

QB breakdown: Bagent began his fourth sport rather than Fields and struggled regardless of not turning the ball over. The offense was out of rhythm all sport. Bagent was off beam on 22% of his throws and did not discover alternatives to make the most of his legs till the second half. The undrafted rookie completed 20 of 33 for 162 yards.

Pivotal collection: Chicago’s protection clamped down on Carolina’s second drive of the third quarter with a six-yard sort out for loss and sack to pressure a three-and-out. The offense, which did not make it ultimately zone within the first half, took benefit of a uncommon begin in plus-territory on the Panthers’ 38-yard line and took the lead for the primary time after D’Onta Foreman’s 4-yard speeding landing capped off a nine-play, 38-yard scoring drive.

Promising development: Chicago put an finish to its two-game dropping streak and not using a sack by taking down the Panthers’ Younger 3 times on Thursday. The Bears entered Week 10 pressuring quarterbacks on a league-low 22% of dropbacks. Within the first half, Younger was pressured on 9 of his 17 dropbacks (53%), which was the Bears’ highest strain share beneath Eberflus. That quantity leveled off within the second half (33%), however Chicago’s move rush confirmed enchancment in holding the Panthers to 3-of-15 on third down. Montez Sweat had a team-high 5 pressures, the primary Bears defender with 5 pressures in a sport since 2021. — Courtney Cronin

Subsequent sport: at Lions (1 p.m., ET, Nov. 19)

Carolina Panthers

Younger and the Panthers’ offense are usually not made for prime time.

Simply when it appeared it could not worsen than the earlier week when Younger threw two pick-sixes, it did towards the Bears. There have been no pick-sixes or interceptions, though there simply might have been three or 4.

There was only a stage of mediocrity that might construct a case for head coach Frank Reich to take again the playcalling duties.

Carolina (1-8) has scored solely two touchdowns within the three video games since Thomas Brown took over the playcalling. However it might simply be an total expertise problem. The Panthers struggled offensively when Reich known as performs as nicely, however to not this stage

QB breakdown: For the second straight sport, Younger took a step backwards. He had solely 63 yards passing within the first half, and 45 of that got here on one play. He got here into the sport with an NFL-worst 29.6 Whole QBR, and that will not enhance. Younger completed 21 of 38 for 185 yards.

Purchase on a breakout efficiency: Third-year large receiver Mike Strachan. Carolina has been excessive on the 6-foot-5 participant out of Charleston (West Virginia) in apply, and he made an influence in his first sport off the apply squad with a 45-yard catch within the first half. He may very well be the deep menace that has been lacking.

Troubling development: The Bears may need discovered the key to shutting down the Panthers’ offense: comprise large receiver Adam Thielen. He was held to 6 catches for 42 yards, making Carolina’s most constant weapon principally a nonfactor.

Daring prediction for subsequent week: The Panthers will make adjustments on the offensive line, maybe shifting heart Bradley Bozeman to left guard. Younger has been beneath fixed strain this season, and far of that has come from up the center. — David Newton

Subsequent sport: vs. Cowboys (1 p.m., ET, Nov. 19)