The Carolina Panthers‘ Thursday Night Football matchup against the Chicago Bears won’t be played for playoff positioning. But that doesn’t mean this game lacks importance. Potentially no game played for the rest of the season will have such an impact on the top of the 2024 NFL Draft. Although the Arizona Cardinals face the Bears later this season, the order could be more settled by then.
The Panthers currently hold the No. 2 spot in the draft order, but they traded those rights to Chicago to select Bryce Young first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. At the moment, the Bears own the third spot in the order.
Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears Predictions
The Panthers and Bears are arguably the two worst teams in the NFL. Chicago is fielding a backup quarterback and has won only two football games in their last 19. Carolina, meanwhile, has managed only one win in the Frank Reich era.
But what does the PFN selection committee think of Thursday night’s battle?
- Beasley: Bears
- Bearman: Bears
- Miller: Bears
- Morrison: Bears
- Robinson: Bears
The Bears Invisible Pass Rush
Chicago has the worst pass-rushing unit in the NFL. That’s a big reason why they decided to make a move for Montez Sweat. Although he’s not among the top tier of NFL pass rushers, Sweat is a perfect complement to a top rusher.
MORE: Are the Bears Leaving Soldier Field?
Chicago doesn’t have that. In fact, aside from Sweat, they don’t have much of anything to threaten opposing offensive lines with. Even the Panthers’ offensive line, which has been far from great in 2023, shouldn’t have too many issues against Chicago.
According to Inside Edge, Chicago’s defense averages a sack every 33.9 attempts. Meanwhile, Young has been sacked 26 times this season, which is fourth-most among QBs. Although the offensive line has become healthier over the past few weeks, Young has continued to take too many sacks.
Whether or not the Bears can change their fortunes and get Young to the ground a few times during the game could be the difference between winning and losing on Thursday night.
DJ Moore Revenge Game
DJ Moore, the ninth overall pick, the No. 61 selection, a 2024 first, and a 2025 second.
That is the package that Chicago received for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. And they may get away with having the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, thanks in part to their own incompetence but also the Panthers’ inability to win football games.
Young’s story is in its first chapter. We won’t know for quite some time whether that selection was the wrong decision. We don’t need forever to look cockeyed at the amount of capital Carolina gave away for the rights to select him.
It reeked of an organization that wanted to be a story. Trading away a young wide receiver who is a borderline No. 1 guy only to replace him with… nothing… is a bold strategy for surrounding your youthful QB.
Moore is currently sixth in receiving yards. Adam Thielen has amassed 610 yards in eight games. But it’s clear that Carolina has absolutely nothing else on the roster at wide receiver. Thielen is more a default option than the once-productive No. 2 he once was.
MORE: How Long Did DJ Moore Play for the Panthers?
Meanwhile, Moore has been a revelation for the Bears. His 6.8-yard average after the catch is second in the NFL. His agility, vision, and contact balance allow Chicago to attack at the line of scrimmage, giving their quarterbacks an outlet for easy completions.
Will Chicago’s coaching staff make a concerted effort to target Moore on Thursday night to stick it to his former squad?
Can Carolina’s Defense Survive Injuries
The Panthers’ defense was already performing at a lower level than we’d seen over the past few seasons. Now, Jaycee Horn, Shaq Thompson, Justin Houston, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jeremy Chinn, CJ Henderson, and Brian Burns are all out against the Bears on Thursday Night Football.
Chicago’s offense certainly isn’t good, but if Tyson Bagent is able to take care of the football, perhaps we see the Bears’ offense look competent on prime time.
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