Predicting Bears' Next 4 Games After 2-2 Start
The Bears entered 2024 with playoff aspirations after finishing 7-10 last season, coming in with much better talent on the offensive side of the ball. They also had the 3rd-easiest projected schedule prior to the year. While the offense has still not hit its stride, the defense looks like the top-10 unit it produced a season ago.
Caleb Williams has still not blown anyone away with the plays he is capable of making, but has improved every week thus far. An entirely new offense with multiple new pieces takes time to get rolling smoothly. The good news for the Bears is that the first half of their schedule is against mostly average to below-average opponents.
If the Bears truly want to make a playoff push, it is crucial they win a chunk of these early games as the divisional matchups and playoff-caliber teams start to pile up on the back half. Let's take a look at the next four games on the schedule and predict each of them.
Week 5 vs. Carolina Panthers
The storylines are already everywhere showcasing the trade two years ago that sent the Bears a plethora of riches in exchange for the first overall 2023 NFL Draft pick, with which the Panthers selected Bryce Young, who will not even be starting this game. Young has been benched for journeyman Andy Dalton and the team has since looked much better. After putting up just 13 points total in their first two games under Young, they have scored 60 in their last two.
Dalton at least makes the Panthers' offense respectable and running back Chubba Hubbard has rushed for 100 yards in each of the last two games. Dionte Johnson has probably benefited the most since the benching of Young as he has scored in each of the last two games. However, the Raiders and Bengals do not have the defense that Chicago has so this will be a big test for Dalton and company.
The Bears played their best game of the season last week against the Rams and should be able to build on the things they did well while still improving on other things. The Panthers' defense ranks 32nd in points per game (32.3) and 28th in yards per game (358). The Bears should be able to move the ball and continue building on last week.