Know Your Foe: Chicago Bears

Oct 01, 2024 at 10:24 AM

Kassidy Hill

CHARLOTTE — For the second year in a row, the Carolina Panthers will head to the Windy City, to take on the Chicago Bears (2-2). But this is a much different Bears team than the one the Panthers fell to 16-13 last November. Since then, Chicago drafted Caleb Williams No. 1 overall, beefed up their defense and moved into the third year of the Matt Eberflus era.

As the Panthers jump into their week of preparations, get to know the 2024 Chicago Bears.

Meet Caleb Williams

This year's first overall pick has experienced a little bit of everything in his first four career games. He has more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three) and has thrown for 787 yards so far with a 61.7 completion percentage. Ironically, the Bears wins have come when Williams has been asked to do a little bit less. For example, in a Week 3 loss, Williams threw 52 passes (33 completions) for 363 yards, with two touchdowns but also two interceptions. In Sunday's Week 4 win against the Rams, Williams threw less than half the same attempts, going 17-23 for 157 yards. But he protected the ball and did enough with what the defense provided for the 24-18 win.

It's a different world than the one in which Williams won the Heisman with the USC Trojans, when he was asked to be Superman a bit. With the Bears, Williams has a defense and special teams unit that can not only keep him in a game, but help win it as well. So, his baptism by fire lesson is more so, don't try to do much.

"He was better because I thought he looked down the field for the shots, and when they weren't there, he took the checkdowns," Eberflus told reporters after the Bears Week 4 win. "We got a lot of yards on those. That was better for him. He's got to keep improving every single week, but I do think that for him, the operation, honoring the football, taking care of the football is the No. 1 job of the quarterback, and he did an excellent job of that."

Da Bears…

As mentioned, Williams can afford to take his time and take a breath, because the Bears defense has proven capable of taking over a game. The unit is 11^th overall in the league, allowing 295.5 yards per game, and seventh overall in passing defense, giving up 174.5 a game through the air.

The Bears' defense has really set themselves up for success in the turnover category. The team is plus-two in differential, tied for sixth best in the league, while the defense has eight takeaways, which is third most in the NFL. They've recovered all three fumbles that were put on the ground and nabbed five interceptions.

Safety Jacquan Brisker—who leads the Bears with 35 tackles—grabbed the latest interception to seal a win against the Rams on Sunday in the final minute of play. Up front, tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. has three sacks through four games.

…are Swifties

The Bears not-so-secret weapon is D'Andre Swift. The Swiss Army knife has a team leading 161 rushing yards on 53 carries (37 more touches than the next closest teammate), as well as 13 receptions for 118 yards, averaging 9.1 yards per reception. With DJ Moore and rookie Rome Odunze drawing so much of the defenses attention downfield, it allows Swift to leak out for short passes, then turning into his natural ball carrier role.

Overall, no player other than Williams has touched the ball more for the Bears than D'Andre Swift.

Asked how Swift has taken his preparation to the next level and it paying off in the game, Eberflus told reporters on Monday that his offensive weapon was, "trying to find answers in terms of what he could do better. He asked several people that same question, and he really took to heart what people were saying to him—his running back coach, the offensive coordinator.

"He asked me about it. I told [reporters] last week about pressing the hole and making that cut … and he did that. So it comes down to doing the ordinary extraordinary. That's what he did [Sunday]."

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith runs into the end zone after catching a 58-yard pass by Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme to score a touch down in the first quarter of their NFC divisional playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Kelvin Benjamin carries the football The Carolina Panthers play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, October 22nd at Soldier Field.

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Kawann Short The Carolina Panthers play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, October 22nd at Soldier Field.

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Shaq Thompson makes a tackle The Carolina Panthers play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, October 22nd at Soldier Field.

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Cam Newton The Carolina Panthers play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, October 22nd at Soldier Field.

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Cam Newton rushes The Carolina Panthers play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, October 22nd at Soldier Field.

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Chicago Bears quarterback Chris Chandler (12) is sacked by Carolina Panthers' Mike Rucker (93) in the second quarter at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Dec. 22, 2002. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Carolina Panthers' Dee Brown (22) runs past several Chicago Bears players for a two yard touchdown in the second quarter at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Dec. 22, 2002. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)

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Carolina Panthers defensive Julius Peppers (90) works against Chicago Bears offensive tackle Fred Miller during their NFL football divisional playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006, in Chicago. Peppers was one of seven players to miss practice Wednesday as the Panthers prepared to play the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game on Sunday, Jan. 22. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher (55) sits on the bench with teammate Lance Briggs following their NFC divisional playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. The Panthers' defeated the Bears 29-21 and will play the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC conference championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) gets away from Chicago Bears' linebacker Lance Briggs during the fourth quarter of their NFC divisional playoff football game in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. The Panthers defeated the Bears, 29-21, and will play the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC conference championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Carolina Panthers' Kris Mangum makes the catch on a one-yard pass from Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme for a touch down in the fourth quarter of their NFC divisional playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme celebrates with a few seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter of their NFC divisional playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. The Panthers defeated the Bears 29-21 and will play the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC conference championship. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in their NFC Divisional Playoff game on January 15, 2006 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Panthers defeated the Bears 29-21. (AP Photo/David Stluka)

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Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad #87 of the Chicago Bears reaches out for a pass against the Carolina Panthers in their NFC Divisional Playoff game on January 15, 2006 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Panthers defeated the Bears 29-21. (AP Photo/David Stluka)

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Chicago Bears' Olin Kreutz (57) tries to push off Carolina Panthers' Jordan Carstens (67) as Carstens sacks Bears quarterback Rex Grossman during the fourth quarter of their NFC divisional playoff football in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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A pass intended for Chicago Bears Justin Gage (12) goes through his fingers and those of Carolina Panthers defenders Chris Gamble (20) and Mike Minter during the second quarter of their NFC divisional playoff football in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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Chicago Bears' Greg Olsen (82) loses the ball after being hit by Carolina Panthers' Chris Harris (43) during the third quarter of the Panthers' 20-17 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. The Panthers recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Chuck Burton

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Carolina Panthers' Richard Marshall (31) and Nate Salley (25) celebrate as head coach John Fox, right, looks on in the closing minutes of the Panthers' 20-17 win over the Chicago Bears in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Chuck Burton

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Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) carries the ball during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Carolina Panthers tight end Jeff King (47) holds onto the ball after a tackle during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton (18) throws a pass during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) calls out a play during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Carolina Panthers fullback Brad Hoover (45) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu (99) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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Rookie running back Jonathan Stewart #28 of the Carolina Panthers scores the go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on September 14, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers defeated the Bears 20-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)

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Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) is tackled by Chicago Bears safety Major Wright (27) in the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. The Bears won 34-29. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Nam Y. Huh

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) reaches for the end zone on a touchdown, as Chicago Bears safety Brandon Meriweather (31) and cornerback Tim Jennings close in during the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Nam Y. Huh

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Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) reaches in to block a field goal attempt by Carolina Panthers' Olindo Mare (10) in the second half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. The holder is Jason Baker (7). (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Nam Y. Huh

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Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) hands off the ball to running back Matt Forte (22) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. The Bears won 34-29. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) is tackled from behind by Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman (33) in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Nam Y. Huh

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Chicago Bears' Devin Hester (23) races past Carolina Panthers' Sean Considine (37) on his way to a 69-yard punt return in the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Nam Y. Huh

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) scrambles for a gain during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday October 28, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago won 23-22. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)

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CHICAGO - JANUARY 15: Running back DeShaun Foster #26 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the football against the Chicago Bears in their NFC Divisional Playoff game on January 15, 2006 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Panthers defeated the Bears 29-21 (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)

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CHICAGO - JANUARY 15: Players line up at the line of scrimmage prior to the snap during the game between the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears in their NFC Divisional Playoff game on January 15, 2006 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Panthers defeated the Bears 29-21 (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)