Bears Must Deliver in These 3 Key Areas to Ensure Week 5 Victory

3. Dial up pressure on Andy Dalton

Getting pressure on the quarterback could and should be a key in every game. Even if pressure on the quarterback doesn't lead to a sack, it leads to other positive defensive plays like incompletions or interceptions. While the Bears haven't been awful at pressuring the QB, they certainly aren't elite at it.

Last week, the Rams' offensive line held Chicago to a 21.9% pressure rate, which was the sixth lowest in the NFL, according to the 33rd team. Although the Bears did send a few blitzes, the fact that the Rams had the sixth-lowest pressure rate is concerning since their offensive line is constructed of mostly backups.

That won't be the case this week against the Panthers, who have a healthy and well invested in offensive line after signing guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt to massive deals this offseaosn. These additions seem to have massively improved the Panther offensive line. Last week, the Panthers allowed the lowest pressure rate at 14.3%.

According to PFF, through four weeks, Hunt has only allowed two pressures and Lewis has only allowed one. While center Austin Corbett has allowed one pressure, right tackle Taylor Moton has allowed four pressures and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu has allowed seven pressures.

Ekwonu seems to be the weak link of the offensive line, so sending the few blitzes we run his way may be a good idea.

Dialing up the pressure on Dalton will make it difficult for him to find his receivers. Conversely, if the Panthers keep Dalton fairly clean, he will use his veteran savvy to pick apart the Bear's defense like Matthew Stafford did last week.

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