CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If the Bears defense keeps playing like this, it’s going to be a long season. And not just because every game will last four hours.
They won’t apologize for beating the Panthers 59-37 in the highest-scoring game in franchise history. But don’t expect the defense to be happy about it.
The Bears made Panthers quarterback Bryce Young look like Fran Tarkenton in the first half Sunday’s season opening shootout. It wasn’t until cornerback Jaylon Johnson ripped the ball out of receiver Tetairoa McMillan’s arms early in the fourth quarter Sunday that the defense provided just enough breathing room for their offense, which set a franchise Week 1 scoring record.
The Bears gave up 24 first-half points. They looked so helpless that coach Ben Johnson decided, while holding a 21-14 lead in the second quarter, to go for it on fourth-and-one from his own 21. Quarterback Caleb Williams ran a sneak, which was stuffed. The Panthers scored to tie the game three plays later.
Johnson had never in his play-calling career gone for it on fourth down that deep in his own zone with his quarterback under center. Last year, the deepest he went for it on fourth down was from his own 37. When he was with the Lions, the only time the team went for it that deep in their own zone on fourth down was with fake punts.
Johnson will undoubtedly frame the decision as having faith in his offense, but the inverse was likely true about his defense.
The Bears made one positive defensive play in the first half, a sack of Young by defensive end Montez Sweat. It was the team’s only tackle for loss or quarterback hit of the first 30 minutes. They were better in the second half.
The Bears’ defense entered Week 1 with questions. They had new starters at defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback and safety.
One newcomer made his presence felt Sunday. Rookie Malik Muhammad started at slot cornerback, moved to outside cornerback when Tyrique Stevenson went in and out of the game because of injuries, and recorded his first career interception.
Beyond that, though, the Bears didn’t get any answers about their defense Given how well their offense played, it didn’t matter Sunday. But it will, and soon, if things don’t get better.