CHARLOTTE (104.3 The Score) – The Bears won the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history Sunday, beating the Panthers, 59-37, at Bank of America Stadium.
There was plenty to unpack from a thriller that lit up the scoreboard in Uptown Charlotte. Here are observations from the game.
Connection with head coach, quarterback is all that matters
I honestly don’t know if it was upsetting to Bears head coach Ben Johnson that his defense allowed 37 points and 478 yards to the Panthers. Perhaps it shouldn’t matter much to anyone else aside from defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and his players on that side of the football.
When you have a quarterback like 24-year-old Caleb Williams connected so well with a head coach like Johnson, you just don’t worry as much about the revolving door at the nickelback position or thin depth on defense. The pass rush doesn’t need to get home as often when your quarterback and his playmakers are lighting up the scoreboard.
Chicago will have to adjust how it watches football with these Bears, because this city has never had a quarterback like Williams or a head coach like Johnson. The team’s 59 points Sunday were the most the Bears had scored in a game since 1980.
The Bears posted 552 yards of offense, including 291 on the ground as D’Andre Swift (124 rushing yards) and Kyle Monangai (100 rushing yards) carved up the Panthers defense. Williams was 21-of-29 for 269 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in an efficient performance on a day that Chicago had nine scoring drives.
This was a masterpiece from Williams and the Bears offense. While 59 points isn’t sustainable each week, the Bears will post plenty of big numbers this season. Chicago clearly has one of the best offenses in the NFL. Could it be the very best?
A notable aspect of the Bears offense’s performance Sunday was that it could’ve better. Chicago’s first series featured a holding penalty and receiver Luther Burden III losing a fumble. The Bears committed 12 penalties as a team, and too many of them came on offense.
The Bears also went three-and-out twice on offense and turned the ball over on downs from their own 21-yard line when a quarterback sneak by Williams came up short after a really aggressive decision by Johnson.
This was a clinic, and yet it still could’ve been more. That’s how dynamic the Bears appear to be offensively.
As for the defense, it should be fine. The secondary is injury-plagued, and the Panthers took advantage of that as quarterback Bryce Young threw for 361 yards. The Bears will likely have a bottom-third defense once again this season, but it shouldn’t get gashed like it did Sunday.
Chicago has worshipped the likes of Richard Dent, Mike Singletary, Brian Urlacher and other greats on defense. The Bears are a franchise that’s proud of its legends, and so many are on the defensive side of the football. Now, it’s time to think differently about how this organization plays football.
The Bears have something great on offense with Williams and Johnson linked together. That’s what matters the most as a city looks forward to a promising season.
QB1 on point
Following the game Sunday, a reporter pointed out to Williams that his completion percentage exceeded the 70% benchmark set by Johnson.
“Cool,” Williams said with a smile.
The details matter a great deal to Johnson – and in turn for Williams. Directing an efficient offense is one of Johnson’s points of emphasis this season.
Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees was part of the FOX broadcast team and spoke with Williams on Thursday as part of a regular production meeting. Brees emphasized to Williams that reaching the 70% completion rate – which Brees did across seven different seasons – is as simple as connecting on a few more throws each game.
For Williams, that doesn’t mean throwing checkdowns. It means putting the ball where it needs to go more this season than he has in the past. That was on display Sunday.
Early in the game, Williams uncorked a deep ball to receiver Rome Odunze, who made a spectacular contested catch to haul it in for a 47-yard completion. It was an outstanding play by Odunze, but Williams also deserved credit for putting the ball in a great spot for Odunze to make the tough catch. The same was true of Williams’ 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet – it was another tremendous catch of a terrific throw.
Johnson’s offense has slowed down for Williams, and it has become second nature to him. He’s operating on time and in rhythm, allowing everything to click.
Williams set quite the tone quickly for his third NFL season, and there’s much more in store.
Rookie steps up
The Bears are asking a lot of rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, the 25th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft last spring.
Thieneman is being counted on to a stabilizing force in the Bears’ depleted secondary, which is missing two starters in safety Coby Bryant and nickelback Kyler Gordon. Fellow safety Xavier Woods (groin) being out Sunday put even more on Thieneman’s plate.
He answered the call. Thieneman was one of the few bright spots for the Bears’ defense, logging eight tackles – including a pair on special teams – as part of an active NFL debut.
Extra points
-- Walking through Uptown Charlotte to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday morning, there were Bears fans everywhere. Chicago always travels well.
-- The Bears used a rotation of Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet at left tackle. That will ultimately be Ozzy Trapilo’s job when he’s fully healthy.
-- The banana ball kicks from punter Tory Taylor are a new weapon for the Bears’ special teams. It caused a pair of muffs Sunday – and maybe more to come this season.
-- The Bears had 315 yards of offense at halftime.
-- Veteran receiver Kalif Raymond catches 205 passes on the JUGS machine after each practice. He had eight catches Sunday as part of a productive day.
-- I loved seeing second-year receiver Jahdae Walker get a touchdown after his terrific blocking effort.
-- The “good, better, best” couldn’t go away. It’s back for a second year with Johnson.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
