Bears vs Panthers: What to Watch For

WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL

The Bears are looking to build off their success last week against the Rams (28 carries, 131 yards, two touchdowns) and establish the run against a Panthers defense that’s 29th in rushing defense (148.8 yards per game).

Running back D’Andre Swift figures to be a key factor after a breakout game: 16 carries for 93 yards and a 36-yard touchdown and seven receptions for 72 yards.

But rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will be the focus, as always. He threw for 363 yards against the Colts in Week 3 and had a season-best 106.6 passer rating against the Rams (157 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions). He has his best chance to put the two together against the Panthers, who rank 32nd in points allowed, 19th in passing yards allowed and 27th in passing yards allowed per attempt.

Opposing quarterbacks have a 107.8 passer rating against the Panthers this season, fifth-highest in the NFL, with the Raiders’ combination of Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell the lowest at 95.4 in the Panthers’ only victory.

The Bears have focused on getting off to a faster start. They’ve scored just three points during the first quarter this season — one of three teams without a first-quarter touchdown.

“[We’re] just doing a really good job with our operation, starting with pre-snap penalties,” offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said. “The guys have done a really good job of addressing those things . . . and finding a way to be locked in right from the jump.”

WHEN THE PANTHERS HAVE THE BALL

After containing veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford last week and forcing him into a game-clinching interception, the Bears’ tack is similar against 36-year-old Andy Dalton: Don’t give him time to get into a groove.

Dalton torched the Raiders in his first start in place of Bryce Young on Sept. 22, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-22 road victory. He has been sacked twice in 79 drop-backs in two games.

The Bears’ defensive line has been a strength the first four games, particularly in the pass rush, which sets up a key matchup against the Panthers’ offensive strength: their offensive line. Running back Chuba Hubbard has 49 carries for 282 yards (5.8 average) in his last three games, including 21-114 against the Raiders and
18-104 with a touchdown in a 34-24 loss to the Bengals last week.

The Bears, who led the NFL in rushing defense last year (86.4 yards per game), are 18th through four games (121.0). They’ve allowed 16 rushes of 10 or more yards (tied for eighth-most), including a 29-yard touchdown by the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor and a 26-yarder by the Titans’ Tony Pollard.

“Our pass rush, we’re doing great, exactly what we wanted to do,” defensive tackle Andrew Billings said. “We’ve got to clean up the run game a little more. It’s not egregious, but it’s not our standard. We stop the run, the pass rush takes off even more, so we’ve got to stop the run.”