{'byline': 'by Dan Bernstein', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '', 'hide_author': True, 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': 'thescorechicago', 'path': 'thescorechicago/sports/chicago-bears/bernstein-bears-good-enough-to-bully-bad-panthers-team'}], 'syndicated_items': [{'station': 'wbbm780', 'path': '/wbbm780/sports/chicago-bears/bernstein-bears-good-enough-to-bully-bad-panthers-team'}], 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v44', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2024-10-06T20:58:36.367Z', 'lead': [{'data': {'_version': 2, 'autoPlay': False, 'contentId': 'JELIqYDzO60', 'videoType': 'Editorial', 'isPlaylist': False, 'origSource': 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JELIqYDzO60', 'videoValid': True, 'videoSource': 'video', 'playerCaption': None, 'videoLocation': 'article', 'videoPlaylist': '', 'playerHeadline': None, 'playerBorderTop': False, 'autoPlayNextVideo': True, 'componentVariation': 'youtube', 'playerBorderBottom': False, 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touchdowns, no interceptions and a 126.2 passer rating but also being entrusted with a hurry-up offense that kept the Panthers' tired-and-less talented players on the field.\xa0Credit to Shane Waldron for another week of avoiding any cutesy overcooking so the rookie could whip up some stuff of his own and for sticking with that heavy power-run group in needed situations.\xa0The operation was cleaner too, avoiding many of the pre-snap penalties that were still haunting the Bears recently.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm1y210o40033357mpck1t13p@published'}, {'data': {'text': "Once the defense solved some alarming gap-integrity issues in the run game early, the Bears ended up holding their 11th straight opponent to 21 points or fewer, a trend that bodes well.\xa0Jaylon Johnson continues to take away an entire side of the field, to the point where it's forgivable to forget he was even out there, as infrequently as he was name-checked.\xa0The Panthers managed only a meager 4.4 yards per pass attempt and were sacked four times.\xa0Their three turnovers were all legitimate takeaways by a Bears team and coach that prefer that phrasing.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm1y210o40034357mjc4klpe6@published'}, {'data': {'text': "The Bears' 30 unanswered points let Matt Eberflus feel fine daring Andy Dalton to beat them, and it resulted in the surprisingly welcome endgame matchup of Bryce Young against Tyson Bagent, with a top overall pick an unlikely white flag and the undrafted free agent the metaphorical victory cigar.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm1y210o50035357mv8lzd51b@published'}, {'data': {'text': "Nothing like that cutaway to a sad David Tepper, either.\xa0Carolina's notorious owner has meddled his way into this and had to watch as Bears general manager Ryan Poles continued to exact his vengeance for the Panthers' decision not to hire him in the same capacity.\xa0Poles has dismantled the Panthers to the Bears' benefit at every turn so far, and to see it play out so completely had to be fulfilling for him in a way he'll never admit publicly.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm1y210o50036357mnegcvc4e@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'All we needed was for Virginia McCaskey to sneak up behind Tepper and administer bilateral wet willies before scurrying away and giggling while he fumed.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm1y210o50037357mqcm7tunp@published'}, {'data': {'text': "The Bears (3-2) are a winning team at the moment, heading to face the Jaguars in London before their week off to rest and recalibrate before facing the 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Bernstein: Bears are good enough to bully a bad team

By Dan BernsteinOct 06, 2024

(670 The Score) No excuses have to be made for beating up bums. In fact, it's very much a part of getting good.

The Bears' 36-10 demolition of the Panthers on Sunday at Soldier Field needn't be anything more than that, tempted as we always are to define such games more broadly and portentously. It was a fun win, though, to be sure, building on previous successes to keep the Bears well-positioned to make the most of their soft schedule before games begin against foes in the NFL's best division.

It was a gorgeous Chicago fall day and replete with other positive sights to be seen.

Caleb Williams had his latest Best Game of his Career, not only completing 20 of 29 passes to six different receivers for 304 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 126.2 passer rating but also being entrusted with a hurry-up offense that kept the Panthers' tired-and-less talented players on the field. Credit to Shane Waldron for another week of avoiding any cutesy overcooking so the rookie could whip up some stuff of his own and for sticking with that heavy power-run group in needed situations. The operation was cleaner too, avoiding many of the pre-snap penalties that were still haunting the Bears recently.

Once the defense solved some alarming gap-integrity issues in the run game early, the Bears ended up holding their 11th straight opponent to 21 points or fewer, a trend that bodes well. Jaylon Johnson continues to take away an entire side of the field, to the point where it's forgivable to forget he was even out there, as infrequently as he was name-checked. The Panthers managed only a meager 4.4 yards per pass attempt and were sacked four times. Their three turnovers were all legitimate takeaways by a Bears team and coach that prefer that phrasing.

The Bears' 30 unanswered points let Matt Eberflus feel fine daring Andy Dalton to beat them, and it resulted in the surprisingly welcome endgame matchup of Bryce Young against Tyson Bagent, with a top overall pick an unlikely white flag and the undrafted free agent the metaphorical victory cigar.

Nothing like that cutaway to a sad David Tepper, either. Carolina's notorious owner has meddled his way into this and had to watch as Bears general manager Ryan Poles continued to exact his vengeance for the Panthers' decision not to hire him in the same capacity. Poles has dismantled the Panthers to the Bears' benefit at every turn so far, and to see it play out so completely had to be fulfilling for him in a way he'll never admit publicly.

All we needed was for Virginia McCaskey to sneak up behind Tepper and administer bilateral wet willies before scurrying away and giggling while he fumed.

The Bears (3-2) are a winning team at the moment, heading to face the Jaguars in London before their week off to rest and recalibrate before facing the Commanders, Cardinals and Patriots. It's not a bad place to be.

A victory like Sunday's should be empowering to those willing to embrace continued optimism, and the development arc for Williams could make Bears life considerably more exciting than just that.

Dan Bernstein is the co-host of the Bernstein & Harris Show on middays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on 670 The Score. You can follow him on Twitter @Dan_Bernstein.

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