The Chicago Bears hit primetime once more as they host the Carolina Panthers in Week 10. Listed here are some daring predictions for the sport.
The Chicago Bears discover themselves as soon as once more on primetime tv. No matter is improper with them is offered to all the nation. We noticed that of their final look, in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8. The printed sales space talked about quarterback Justin Fields‘ struggles and made it seem to be he was benched as a substitute of being out due to harm.
The final time we noticed the Bears on Thursday evening, they have been profitable their first recreation of the season. The win additionally ended their 14-game dropping streak.
The Bears tackle one other struggling crew this Thursday, the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers traded for Chicago’s primary decide for a haul of picks and D.J. Moore. A type of picks was Carolina’s first-round decide in 2024.
That looks like an excellent decide in the meanwhile. Carolina is 1-7 and presently has the draft’s second decide. There’s a probability they find yourself with the highest decide. If that occurs, the Bears would have back-to-back years with the highest decide. With Chicago’s struggles, they might find yourself with two top-five picks within the draft.
Meaning no matter occurs within the recreation, the Chicago Bears will win.
The Bears are getting ready to actually win the sport. Fields is once more out for the sport so rookie Tyson Bagent will get one other alternative. He had an terrible second half in final week’s recreation in opposition to the New Orleans Saints. After going toe-to-toe in a primary half that was tied at 14, he may solely muster one drive that resulted in a area purpose within the second half.
Bagent simply couldn’t transfer the ball within the second half. Moreover, he couldn’t cease turning the ball over. He had three turnovers within the second half (two interceptions and a misplaced fumble). Regardless of having solely a seven-point deficit, the best way Bagent performed made it seem to be it was a blowout.
Now Bagent will get an opportunity to make up for that. This may very well be his final begin so he needs to make it one.
Let’s see how Bagent and the Chicago Bears do in opposition to the Panthers. Listed here are some daring predictions for the sport.
D’Onta Foreman runs wild
It’s vital for the Chicago Bears’ operating recreation to have a giant evening. Bagent doesn’t have the arm to need to go downfield and are available from behind. We noticed that previously two video games.
What we noticed in his first begin was that when the Bears have the lead and the protection performs properly, he can dink and dunk and dissipate the clock. Having an efficient operating recreation helps with that.
D’Onta Foreman has performed properly after Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson went down with accidents. Johnson is again however Foreman has nonetheless been the bellcow operating again. Nonetheless, Herbert is nearing a return so Foreman’s time could be lower quick like Bagent’s.
The Panthers actually battle in opposition to the run. They rank twenty eighth in speeding yards and final in speeding touchdowns allowed. Foreman can rip some large runs and put the Bears able to attain some touchdowns. Within the Bears’ victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, he had three touchdowns, two on the bottom. He may have one other large day.
Prediction: Foreman runs for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Sweat helps Ngakoue
What additionally helped Bagent in his solely win was the protection. The Bears’ protection performed arguably its most full recreation. The protection ought to have one other large recreation Thursday evening.
The Panthers have their very own rookie, Bryce Younger. He doesn’t have a lot surrounding him, nevertheless. Carolina’s offensive line has had its issues defending Younger. Whereas everybody talks in regards to the Chicago Bears’ line giving up 30 sacks, the Panthers have given up 29.
The Bears’ move rush has been the worst final season and once more this season. Nonetheless, they traded for defensive finish Montez Sweat. He had begin to his Chicago debut, making use of stress on 25 % of his snaps. That was the second-highest amongst defensive ends in Week 9.
Sweat performs arduous on each snap. That type of play is infectious. We must always see how a lot tougher the move rushers play on Thursday.
With Sweat making use of stress on the quarterback, Yannick Ngakoue ought to play higher. With none assist, groups can run further gamers his approach to neutralize him. With Sweat taking part in properly, he’ll entice consideration. That frees up Ngakoue.
With a struggling offensive line, the Bears ought to do properly. The Bears rank fourth in opposition to the run and the Panthers rank twenty fourth in speeding so Chicago ought to shut down the operating recreation. That makes the Panthers one-dimensional so the move rushers can simply assault.
Prediction: The Bears’ protection data 5 sacks and holds the Panthers to 63 speeding yards. Ngakoue data two sacks.
Moore shines on primetime once more
Moore didn’t have his greatest recreation final week. He had 3 catches for 44 yards and a giant fumble misplaced. He needs to make up for that recreation.
The final time Moore was on Thursday Night time Soccer Moore had an unimaginable recreation. He had 8 catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He was killing whoever lined him that evening.
Moore runs nice routes and may be very elusive. He may not catch a whole lot of passes deep downfield. Nonetheless, he can catch a brief move and convert it to a much bigger one. The Panthers protection ranks fifth in passing yards however twentieth in passing touchdowns. If the speeding assault does its job, it would put the Bears in scoring place. Moore may benefit from that.
Prediction: Moore has 8 catches for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Johnson exhibits why the Bears ought to pay him
Jaylon Johnson has been in a contract battle with the Chicago Bears. He was annoyed by the best way negotiations have gone. It bought so unhealthy that he requested a commerce simply earlier than the commerce deadline final week. The Bears granted him permission to hunt a commerce however the affords have been to not their liking.
After the deadline, Johnson shut down negotiations for the remainder of the season. He’s trying to hit free company and see how the Bears match as much as different groups’ affords.
Within the meantime, Johnson needs to place extra proof on the desk that he deserves a monster extension. He may not be too glad to see Sweat, who’s been on the crew for 5 minutes, obtain an extension earlier than he does. He needs to indicate why that was a mistake.
If the Bears harass Younger he’ll make a mistake. The Panthers rank twenty first in interceptions. When the move rush pressured the Raiders’ quarterbacks, Johnson had two interceptions. Considered one of them was a pick-six in opposition to top-of-the-line large receivers within the NFL, Davante Adams.
Search for Johnson to shine as brilliant because the lights on Thursday evening.
Prediction: Johnson permits one completion and intercepts a move.
Bagent makes up for his weak recreation final week
As talked about, Bagent struggled within the second half of final week’s recreation. He certain is glad to have an opportunity to offer a greater exhibiting. Going up in opposition to the Panthers’ protection, he ought to have recreation.
The Panthers’ move rush shouldn’t be significantly better than Chicago’s. Whereas the Bears rank final in sacks, Carolina ranks simply twenty ninth. Moreover, they rank twenty eighth in hurry proportion and twenty third in quarterback stress proportion.
Bagent has a fast launch so opposing move rushers haven’t been capable of sack him. In his three begins, he has solely been sacked 4 occasions. The Panthers will likely be with out their greatest move rusher, Brian Burns. That may be a reduction for Chicago’s offensive line.
Prediction: Bagent throws for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He provides 42 yards speeding.
