It wasn't easy and it wasn't as pretty as expected, but the Chicago Bears ultimately got the job done. The Carolina Panthers' offense put up a huge fight, but Ben Johnson's team was just too explosive to overcome in the end.
The Bears put up a whopping 59 touchdowns in the first game of the season. That should shut down all potential concerns about the rust and whether their banged-up playmakers would need some time to get their legs under them.
It wasn't perfect, but what matters is that the record shows 1-0. With a divisional clash with the Minnesota Vikings up next, let's take a look at the three main takeaways from the first game of the season.
3 Biggest conclusions from the Bears' big Week 1 win in Carolina
The running game is a thing of beauty
D'Andre Swift just reminded everyone why his new deal was an absolute bargain. He just needed 18 carries to log 124 rushing yards (6-9 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. He also hauled in his only reception for 10 yards.
It was a somewhat quiet night for Kyle Monangai, who didn't look as explosive and constantly ran into stacked boxes. Then, he broke out for a 61-yards explosion for a score, finishing the game with exactly 100 rushing yards on 10 carries. He also had two catches for 24 yards.
All in all, the Bears ran for a staggering 291 rushing yards. Coach Johnson already led the third-best running game in the league last season, and he has found his new version of Sonic & Knuckles in the Windy City.
The defense is... Still not great
Listen, winning is cool and everything, but the Bears won't win many games in which they allow 37 points. As explosive as their offense is, the defense can't expect that unit to bail them out on a weekly basis again this season.
The Panthers went 4-for-9 on third down and had 478 total yards of offense. Takeaways were crucial again, with the Bears picking off Byron Young once and recovering two fumbles lost, but again, it's all about getting stops.
We have to give credit where it's due, and coach Dave Canales has a bright offensive mind and interesting weapons to work with. That said, there have to be some adjustments here. At least, rookie Dillon Thieneman looked like he belonged, logging six tackles and one pass breakup.
Caleb Williams' breakout is real
A lot has been said about Caleb Williams in the offseason, and not everything has been positive. Now, the haters and those who cry 'overrated' might have gone radio silent after watching him put up such a masterful performance in the first game of the season.
The former No. 1 pick made big play after big play, but he also lived up to his promise of being better at the little things. He finished the game with 21 completions on 269 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
There will always be some risks with Williams; he's just too talented to play it safely all the time. Regardless, he made good decisions, kept the offense ahead of the sticks, and also had 10 scrambles for 65 yards and two additional touchdowns. Baller.
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