The Bears enter Week 1 with a chance to push back on the idea that they’re built for a step backward, and the opener in Carolina gives them an immediate test. Ben Johnson’s team has been tagged as one of the NFL’s most obvious regression candidates, but Sunday’s road trip offers a clean chance to silence that talk.
A lot will hinge on a few individual battles, especially with Chicago trying to protect an offense that’s expected to carry the load. If the Bears come out of Charlotte with a win, these are the kinds of matchups that likely tilted it their way.
Dillon Thieneman is one of the more interesting pieces in Chicago’s defensive setup, and his first assignment comes against Bryce Young. With the Bears having moved on from multiple key secondary pieces this offseason, the rookie safety will be asked to help steady things on the back end.
His job is straightforward: keep Carolina from hitting explosive plays and let Caleb Williams and the offense set the tone. If Thieneman and Xavier Woods can keep the Panthers in front of them, Chicago has a much better chance of avoiding a track meet.
On the sideline, Johnson’s chess match with Ejiro Evero could matter just as much. Johnson leaned on a scheme built to hunt big plays in his first season with the Bears, but the real test is whether he can keep adjusting once defenses start finding answers. Evero, Carolina’s defensive coordinator, will be the one trying to force those answers on Sunday.
The Bears also have a glaring question at left tackle, where Braxton Jones gets a difficult opening task against Jaelan Phillips. Jones gave up pressure on nearly 7% of his pass-blocking snaps last season, and now he’s set to line up across from Carolina’s $120 million edge rusher.
Phillips has flashed real game-wrecking ability, even if staying healthy has been an issue. If Jones can’t hold up, Chicago’s whole plan gets a lot more complicated.
Then there’s Caleb Williams against Devin Lloyd in the middle of the field. If the Bears’ offense stays on script, this matchup may not decide much.
But Lloyd has the kind of ball production that can flip a game fast. He tied for second in the NFL last season with five interceptions, and he’ll be looking to make life uncomfortable for Williams whenever the Panthers can crowd the passing lanes.
In Other News...
Caleb Williams Fans Just Got New Fuel In The QB Debate
Drake Mayes Week 1 debut did not exactly quiet the quarterback debate from the 2024 class. In a loss to the Seahawks, he threw three interceptions, including the one that ended the game, and was outplayed by backup Drew Lock after Sam Darnold left early with an injury. For Bears fans keeping tabs on the rookie class, it was the kind of opener that immediately sharpened the contrast with Caleb Williams.
Williams enters a far less demanding start to his season, and that alone has kept the comparison alive. Some fans already see him as the superior quarterback from the 2024 group, and Mayes rough first impression only gave that argument more oxygen. The season is just beginning, of course, but the early returns have added a little more weight to every Caleb Williams conversation in Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Defensive Depth Chart Is Getting Mocked For One Big Reason
The Bears Week 1 defensive depth chart has a few familiar anchors, with Montez Sweat and Grady Jarrett expected to set the tone up front and Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson positioned to help stabilize the secondary. Devin Bush also stands out as an upgrade at linebacker over Tremaine Edmunds, giving Chicago a different look in the middle of the defense as the season opens.
What has drawn the most attention, though, is how the chart handles Jordan van den Berg. Even without a prominent listing, he is expected to have a meaningful role, which has led to plenty of second-guessing about how the Bears are arranging their front. For a group trying to project confidence before Week 1, the reactions are a reminder that the official order on paper does not always match how the snaps are likely to be distributed. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Open With A Caleb Williams Question Fans Were Hoping To Avoid
Braxton Jones will open the season where the Bears need stability most, with the veteran tackle named the starter at left tackle for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. It is a notable development for an offensive line still trying to settle in around Caleb Williams, because protecting the quarterbacks blind side has been one of the biggest early-season questions hanging over the offense.
Ben Johnson said injured tackle Ozzy Trapilo is making positive progress, but his return does not appear imminent, which leaves Jones in position to handle the job for now. For Chicago, the bigger issue is not just who starts Sunday, but how long the Bears can keep that spot from turning into another weekly conversation at one of the most important positions on the field. [Read more 🡒]