Before It's Too Late, Let's Acknowledge The Season The Bears And Panthers Are Having

I thought about writing a six-pack on the most surprising teams so far this year, and in doing that my brain immediately went to three teams: the Patriots, Bears, and Panthers. Three teams that had potential based off of offseason acquisitions (Bears and Patriots) and how they played down the stretch of last season (Panthers), but not much material hope.

I already wrote a blog about the Pats this week, so I felt like going into further depth on them was overkill (even though I could absolutely do it and will if people want). I then thought about the other two, and while I could've lumped them into the same blog as the Texans, Colts, and others, each for their own reasons, these two teams are hardly relevant in the NFL. They're habitually back page news, with the only mentions on national stages typically being fowl comments from their owner or montages of sad Ditka look-a-likes leaving Soldier Field.

So while I can, before they clash with the blue bloods of the NFL this weekend with the possibility of getting their teeth kicked in and never making another notable wave this season, I thought it'd be fair to these tortured fanbases to give them their flowers, their moment in the sun, before the sky inevitably turns dark.

The 4-2 Chicago Bears

In a shocking reminder of how pathetically horrible the last few months of last season went in the Windy City, the Bears are 4-2 for the second year in a row. While things may feel different this year, this Bears team is just two plays away from their record being flipped. A blocked FG in Vegas and a late-game self-fumble from Jayden Daniels in Washington are the difference in an entire city's outlook and mood after seven weeks.

But we can nitpick any and every team, making a case that they could or should be better or worse than they are. The facts are that Bears teams of recent, middle-aged, and old would probably be 2-4. The games that Chicago is accustomed to losing in heartbreaking fashion, under Ben Johnson's first season at the helm, have already started to turn in their favor, and the vibes in the city about the Bears and their future are as bright as the Caribbean waters of Lake Michigan on a sunny day.

For that reason I do think there's some level of realistic hope for this team. Caleb Williams isn't playing the best football on the planet, but has improved in every aspect from his rookie season. He's the 8th least sacked QB in football this year, being sacked just 5 times in the last four games after being sacked 4 times per game last year. He's taking better care of the football, with just three turnovers through six games. And he's being more aggressive while doing it, averaging more yards per attempt than last year, while boasting a better passer rating and QBR than his rookie season.

What Ben Johnson has improved the most, however, is the rushing attack of the Bears, which has gone from 25th in the league last year to 8th so far in 2025. The reason the Detroit Lions were such a lethal offense under Johnson, and still are, isn't because of Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, or the rest of their dynamic passing attack. It's because that dynamic attack comes second fiddle to an even more intimidating run game, and can utilize loaded boxes and front-heavy looks that the run game creates to their advantage in the play action game.

That's what Benny boy is bringing to Chicago, and was on full display this Sunday in the rain in Soldier Field. When the Saints knew the Bears were running, they couldn't stop them. I won't pretend to break down the formations and blocking schemes, but 222 yards of ground yards on 40 carries (vs. just 26 passes), with the longest rush from anyone being just 24 yards, screams bully-ball. That's Bears football that fans over the age of 50 still hang their hat on. Da Bears if you will.

Despite the offensive improvements, the fact this team is two games over .500 is pretty remarkable. Their defense isn't very good, ranking 25th or worse in total defense, rushing defense, and PPG allowed. But at the same time, the same defense that's handing out EZ passes to opposing offenses to uninterruptedly walk down the field is leading the league in turnovers with 16, despite already having their bye week. They have a league high 11 INTs, which matches their 2024 season total, and also lead the league in differential at +11.

This is a classic fork in the road with how you can paint a team's picture. You can be optimistic, saying that winning the turnover battle within a game and ultimately a season is a great indicator of success, and if they continue to turn teams over, with the offense limiting turnovers at the same time to boast that league high differential, there's no reason they can't keep winning games.

The pessimistic side, the side that not enough Bears fans fall into yet is likely more realistic, is that teams that turn the ball over at ridiculous rates, and win games by the skin of their teeth despite doing so (i.e. the Pittsburgh Steelers of the last decade) eventually run out of turnover magic, and when that happens they can't sustain.

This weekend is a big test for Chicago, traveling to Baltimore in Lamar's return and the Ravens fresh off a bye after stewing for two weeks from their 44-10 shellacking from the Texans. If the Bears can hang with the Ravens, or by all means win, I think the optimism and hope, for the first time, starts to mold into expectation. But if things go south, than this cute start may be all for nothing. They'll still win some games against weaker opponents, but those wins come with a sense of emptiness, that deep down, they know exactly who they are. And it's not who they want to be. So enjoy it while you can Chicago. No matter what it can't be worse than last year.

The 4-3 Carolina Panthers

I know most people, including Panthers fans, are stunned by this team so far this season, basking in the highest high this franchise has felt since Cam Newton was pretending to rip his shirt open in the endzone twice a game. But I feel like my preseason read on this team was pretty spot on.

I think this season will be similar to the end of last season for Carolina. They'll be competitive, win a couple more games than they're used to, but still lack the fire power to make a real mark. The roster is still pretty far away, but if some young guys show promise the future can continue to look bright. Record: 7-10

After starting 1-3 and getting blown out in two of those losses, the Thers have rattled off three straight wins for the first time since 2021 when notable Panthers legend Sam Darnold began his long-winding journey back to relevance in the NFL.

The Panthers themselves are on that journey now, as this current win streak marks only the third time since that 2021 3-0 stretch that the team has won more than one game in a row.

Think about the level of incompetence it takes in order for that to be a true statistic. The Panthers have had just one season since 2018 with more than five (5) wins. They've had as many head coaches as they've had two game winning streaks in the last four years. They've had as many starting QBs in the last five years as wins in the last two years combined.

I preface this not to sucker punch Panthers fans who thought we were talking about them in a good light for once, but to set the stage and allow you to fully understand how big of a deal a 4-3 record is to the people in Carolina (and maybe a little to put them down cause holy shit).

Who Bryce Young is is as unknown as Lumen Industries' mission statement. After such a strong finish to last season, hopes were, well, appropriately high that he might actually be a franchise QB. But I wouldn't say he's lived up to those expectations so far, and isn't the reason the Panthers are winning games.

He's produced just one game with over 200 passing yards, and his passing unit ranks 26th in the league in yards and 23rd in points. He's showing signs of improvement, having just two turnovers in the last five games, while simultaneously making you pull your hair out watching him and the offense fail to execute like they did Sunday in the Meadowlands.

The reason the Panthers are winning is because of their running game and defense, both of which are wildly exceeding low preseason expectations.

Move over Chuba Hubbard, there's a new RB1 in town. Not since Tom Brady in 2001 have we seen a better "take advantage of your opportunity" moment than what Rico Dowdle did in the two weeks Chuba was out with a calf strain.

In two games, Dowdle nearly doubled the rushing yards Hubbard put up in the first four weeks. Dowdle's back to back games of 206 and 183 yards on the ground are the only thing standing between the Panthers and a 2-5 record, as they won each of those games by a field goal. They ran for more than they passed in both games, and now boast the 3rd ranked rushing attack in football. If Dowdle hasn't fully taken Chuba's job after outgaining him in his return last week, he's at least earned a full time spot on the two headed monster.

The defense is also legit, but I don't really get how. Despite giving up 24 or more points in 5 of the team's 7 games, they rank top 10 in passing, rushing, and total defense. They're middle of the pack in terms of turnovers, and are 26th in sacks. I couldn't name a singular player on their defense before looking up the depth chart.

Like I mentioned with the Bears, there's two ways to paint every picture. You can look at the Panthers and say, wow, they have a bottom half offense in football, with a bottom half QB who's still not playing up to his potential, with a negative turnover differential on the season, and are 4-3. If they can continue to get the production from the RBs, get the offensive line to be as effective pass blocking as they are run blocking, and cause a few more turnovers, what's to say they can't win 9-10 games and have a chance at the playoffs come December?

Or, you could look at this team and say, damn, is it realistic to think a team with a bottom half offense, with a bottom half QB who's yet to ever consistently play at a high level, a RB who caught lightning in a bottle that was barely enough to beat subpar teams, and a defense who isn't consistently causing turnovers or pressure in the backfield to opposing QBs, can continue to win games, especially against the upcoming schedule they have slated (Buffalo, GB, SF, LA Rams, and two division games the next six weeks)?

I hope it's the former, although I'm not too confident it will be. Bryce being out the next couple weeks doesn't help, especially since he's starting to build some rapport with his young receiving corps. But either way, if you were to ask a Panthers fan, I bet you they'd already tell you the season was a success. Having hope past the calendar turn to autumn is not something they're used to, and I doubt thought they'd have this year.

So in case things go awry, shoutout to the Panthers, and the Bears, for being worthy of being talked about.