CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Bears receiver DJ Moore knew once the football left quarterback Caleb Williams’ hand that he would soon have his second touchdown catch of the game Sunday.
Moore had the inside track on a post route against Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson, and the rookie Williams released the pass in line with his break. Moore hauled it in for a 30-yard touchdown reception as the Bears extended their lead to 27-7 late in the second quarter. After getting up off the Soldier Field turf, Moore flipped the football in the air and then ran off to the home sideline to meet with Williams.
“We were super excited,” Williams said. “We get to the sideline, and we were both like, ‘Finally.’”
Yes, finally, the Bears had their breakout offensive performance in a 36-10 pummeling of the Panthers. Williams led the way with the best showing of his short NFL career, going 20-of-29 for 304 yards and two touchdowns. He found Moore five times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears’ running game complemented the passing attack with 128 yards on the ground, part of the team’s season-best 424 yards of offense.
The Bears hit a new high-water mark of 27 points by halftime. Chicago’s 289 yards of offense in the first half surpassed its game total in three of the first four contests of the season.
While the Panthers (1-4) may well be the worst team in the NFL, the Bears’ performance showcased important growth after they had struggled offensively for long stretches early in the season.
“The games even that we lost, we were right there,” Williams said. “Most of them were just small details throughout the game that we were missing. I think after those losses and even after this week and the week before, these wins, us understanding, the leaders, that we got a lot of room to get better. We got a lot of things that we need to fix.
“The personality of the team is going to continue to grow, but we’re excited. We know that we got to keep growing and keep progressing, but definitely excited about being 3-2.”
On Thursday afternoon at Halas Hall, the Bears offense had what Williams believed was one of its worst practices of the year. In walking off the fields to the locker room, Williams and key leaders on his side of the ball agreed that they couldn’t have such a lapse again, with continued improvement being their goal.
So, Williams and the Bears’ offense made a point to have a greater focus during up-tempo walk-through work Friday.
The dividends are beginning to show for the Bears, who had the Panthers’ defense on the ropes for much of Sunday. After being under fire early in the season, Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron made adjustments to his scheme that have better catered to the offensive personnel.
The Bears operated with a faster pace offensively and used their personnel wisely in various situations. Two weeks removed from a disastrous goal-to-go sequence in a 21-16 loss to the Colts, Waldron is now consistently utilizing second-year running back Roschon Johnson – the team’s most powerful rusher – in short-yardage situations.
Johnson had two touchdown runs in goal-to-go plays Sunday, with center Doug Kramer serving as an extra key blocker on both plays. Veteran running back D’Andre Swift rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown while adding two catches for 47 yards. It marked the second straight game that Swift had at least 120 total yards.
Williams was sacked just once as the Bears’ changes on the offensive line appear to have paid off. Versatile veteran Matt Pryor has moved into the starting role at right guard as head coach Matt Eberflus has benched right guard Nate Davis – despite his $30-million contract, which could’ve represented job security.
When left guard Teven Jenkins exited the game Sunday due to an ankle injury, the Bears turned to fifth-year reserve Bill Murray – for just his second appearance in an NFL game – rather than Davis.
The Bears’ offensive line is embracing the newfound identity, which has featured a balanced attack as the running game is moving and Williams has more time in the passing game.
“Caleb is a stud,” Pryor said. “He’s getting better every week. It’s just exciting to see him improve.”
The Bears fell behind 7-0 when Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard ran for a 38-yard touchdown on Carolina’s second offensive series. It marked the fifth time in as many games this season that Chicago allowed the first score of the game and thus played from behind.
But the Bears defense held the Panthers to just 292 yards of offense and forced three turnovers. The end of the game featured Carolina turning to second-year quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 who was benched two games into this season in favor of veteran Andy Dalton.
The Panthers selected Young with the pick they acquired from the Bears in a March 2023 trade that has set these two franchises in different directions. Bears general manager Ryan Poles ultimately agreed to the trade because of Moore’s inclusion in it. After Carolina went an NFL-worst 2-15 in 2023, the Bears selected Williams with that No. 1 overall pick that the Panthers conveyed to them.
On Sunday, Williams and Moore had the breakthrough they’d been waiting for.
"With fun comes a lot of wins,” Moore said. “And with a lot of wins comes a lot of fun.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.