The Chicago Bears season is finally just around the corner! The preseason is behind us, 53-man rosters have been finalized across the NFL, and the Bears are gearing up for their trip to Charlotte. The Bears find themselves with a massive amount of hype surrounding the team following their playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers in 2025 and their subsequent loss to the Los Angeles Rams. But amid speculation that the Bears may take a step back after re-taking the NFC North, can the Bears really improve upon their previous successes?
The Bears are on the road for their first game, but that shouldn't put too much of a damper on the Bears' plan. Chicago enters their second season under Ben Johnson's leadership, and with that comes Dennis Allen's defense. That's particularly important because Allen's resume includes a couple seasons at the helm of the Saints, where he earned a record of 3-1 against Carolina.
Dennis Allen’s history with Carolina gives Chicago a head start
Allen was the Saints' head coach from 2022-2024, but he was a coach in their system for years prior to that, dating back to 2015. Between 2015 and 2024, the Saints and the Panthers played one another 21 times including a 2017 Wild Card. The Saints won twelve of those games, and surrendered eight. It's not exactly Tom Brady numbers, but it's certainly a winning record.
While Carolina has made significant roster changes and added solid draft selections, Dave Canales has been their head coach since Allen's last time in New Orleans, which means Allen has already endured multiple weeks of prep work against their system that largely remains in place. That kind of prior knowledge can really play a part in the way the Bears prepare their defensive strategy.
Obviously things went a bit south for Allen and the Saints in the end. It's directly how he ended up working for the Bears.
Allen's record against Carolina won't go guaranteeing anything for the Bears, nor does it suggest that he's particularly familiar with their roster. What matters is that Allen has prepared to defend against this coaching staff before, and that familiarity has likely influenced Chicago's preparation and study heading into Week 1.
That familiarity won't decide the game on it's own. At the end of the day, Allen must trust the players he has on the field. In a Week1 matchup where the Bears are favored, that preparation could give the Bears enough boost to start the season off on the right foot.
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