The Chicago Bears could hardly have asked for a better start under head coach Ben Johnson. They beat the Carolina Panthers 59-37 on the road, setting a franchise record for points in a season opener. The 96 combined points also marked the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history.
Pro Football Focus released its Team of the Week, featuring two Bears. These players helped Chicago finish with 552 total yards, including 291 on the ground.
Here are the Bears who made the biggest impact.
D’Andre Swift
Swift was the biggest force in Chicago’s rushing attack. He carried 18 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry. Crucially, his touchdowns came at important moments.
The Bears’ running back scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, added another 1-yard touchdown in the third and then finished the game with a 28-yard touchdown run in the fourth. That’s precisely the kind of performance Chicago wanted from its lead back, when it signed a three-year, $33.75 million contract extension just before Week 1.
Darnell Wright
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Wright’s performance was quieter than Swift’s, but it was just as important to the offensive explosion. PFF handed him 84.0 grade, fifth among Chicago’s offensive players while his 88.5 run-blocking grade stood out in particular.
Notably, Chicago ran the ball 39 times for 291 yards, with much of that success generated behind Wright and guard Jonah Jackson on the right side.
In August, the Bears rewarded him with a four-year extension worth $116 million, with $93 million guaranteed.
A Strong Start, But Chicago Still Has Work to Do
Carolina gained 478 total yards, while Chicago committed 12 penalties for 57 yards. The Bears also turned the ball over on their opening possession and allowed touchdowns on all four of the Panthers’ red-zone trips.
The Bears now prepares for a Week 2 matchup against Minnesota, who opened the season with a 39-22 win over Green Bay. The Vikings’ defense, led by Brian Flores, will give Williams and the Bears a much different challenge than Carolina did.
Williams enters the matchup after completing 21 of 29 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 65 rushing yards and two rushing scores. The Bears’ biggest concern is making sure the offensive explosion does not cover the defensive issues.
