5 Chicago Bears' Keys to Success for Week 5 vs the Carolina Panthers

4) Pressure the Quarterback With Four Rushers on Defense

Defensively, the Bears have to improve at generating pressure with just four rushers. Up front, second-year tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. has enjoyed a great start to the season with three sacks, a vast improvement from his 2023 season total of 2.5. Pro Bowler Montez Sweat has added two sacks while newcomer Darrell Taylor logged two sacks in week one alone.

Pressuring the passer without committing more rushers up front will allow the Bears' linebackers to play the run and stifle a talented back in Chuba Hubbard, who leads the Panthers with just shy of 300 rush yards. In the secondary, pressure up front will only make it easier to cover a holistic receiving corps that features veterans Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, as well as rookie Xavier Leggette, all of whom have enjoyed an increase in production since Dalton's arrival to the offense. If the Bears can create problems up front in the passing lanes and against the rush, the rest of the defense will benefit from much simpler tasks on Sunday.

5) Play Smart Situational Football as a Team

This season, the Bears' margin for error has been razor-thin through four games, partly due to some bad situational football. Mistakes such as penalties, turnovers, and bad play-calls are inevitable in football, but preventing such mishaps in crucial situations is often what separates great teams from good ones.

Specifically, the Bears have struggled with penalties as of late, with the majority coming as pre-snap offensive fouls which the team should look to iron out as the season rolls on. Of the team's 30 accepted penalties, the 11th most in the NFL, eleven have come from either a delay of game or false start. Avoiding these mental errors, especially in the red zone or on third downs, will prevent the offense from stopping themselves, putting more pressure on the Panthers' defense. If the Bears can stay situationally smart on Sunday, they should be in a good position to move on with a 3-2 record.