Takeaways From A High-Octane Opener

The start to the Bears season couldn’t have gone any worse. Luther Burden fumbled on the first drive and the team committed three penalties in the first three minutes as the Panthers took an early 7-0 lead. Luckily, the response couldn’t have gone any better. Caleb and Co. staged a 73-yard touchdown drive that took 5:36 and the defense forced a three-and-out on the next drive. The Bears responded with touchdowns on the next two drives to take control of the game. If three touchdowns on three drives sounds familiar, it’s because it happened 246 days ago during the fourth quarter of the Packers playoff game. We have truly entered new territory as Chicago Bears fans.

The Bears picked on the Panthers youngsters early: That 3-and-out mentioned above was forced when Montez Sweat turnstiled rookie Monroe Freeling for his first sack of the season. Then rookie corner Will Lee got mossed by Rome Odunze on the next drive after losing track of the Bears receiver. Meanwhile, Malik Muhammad snagged a real ball during an interception of Young and Dillon Thieneman got a game ball for his 10 tackle performance. It was great to see the Bears win that battle of youth.

The touchdown throw to Cole Kmet was truly special. Every week, it seems like Caleb makes another throw that only a few other quarterbacks are capable of making. His 22-yard toss to Kmet near the left pylon was that throw this week. Though Devin Lloyd is a special player, Kmet still had the advantage on the Panthers linebacker and Williams threaded the ball to Kmet’s outstretched hands, just between Lloyd and the approaching Jaycee Horn. The unsung star of the play was Colston Loveland, who made a key block in the backfield to let Williams get the pass off. Though Loveland was shut out on the stat sheet, it’s a play that will earn him praise in the film room.