Young vs. Williams: Bears Feast on Panthers’ Costly QB Gamble
In a stunning display of football fate, the Chicago Bears trampled the Carolina Panthers 36-10 on Sunday, showcasing the stark contrast between two young quarterbacks linked by a controversial trade.
The game kicked off with both teams trading punts, but that’s where the similarities ended. While Bears rookie Caleb Williams dazzled with pinpoint passes and nimble footwork, Panthers’ former top pick Bryce Young watched from the sidelines, headset in hand.
This wasn’t how Carolina drew it up when they mortgaged their future last year. The Panthers gave up a king’s ransom to move up to the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, snagging Young. They shipped off star receiver DJ Moore, their 2023 first-round pick (9th overall), a 2023 second-rounder (61st overall), a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round selection.
Fast forward to Sunday, and that 2024 first-rounder – who became the top overall pick after Young’s rocky rookie season – was on full display in a Bears uniform. Williams, the fruit of Carolina’s struggles, put on a clinic.
The rookie completed 20 of 29 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t turn the ball over once. Williams also showed off his legs, scampering for 34 yards on five carries.
“He’s learning and growing,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said of Williams. “You can see that. He’s going to level up.”
While Williams shined, Young rode the pine. The Panthers, desperate for a spark, only put Young in for the final drive when they were down 26 points with just over four minutes left. He went 4-for-7 for 58 yards in garbage time.
Adding salt to Carolina’s wounds, Moore – the receiver they gave up in the Young trade – torched his former team. He hauled in five catches for 105 yards and two scores, including a 34-yard strike where he was left wide open.
“It’s amazing,” Moore said post-game, with his daughters perched on his legs. “It took five weeks to get the down-the-field pass game going, and it hits when it hits. It was good today.”
The Panthers’ offense sputtered all day. They went 0-for-2 in the red zone and converted just 4 of 15 third and fourth down attempts. The absence of a playmaker like Moore was glaring.
Carolina’s woes go beyond just one game. Young has struggled mightily since entering the league, throwing just 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in his rookie campaign. He completed 59.8% of his passes and took a league-worst 62 sacks for 477 yards.
The Bears, meanwhile, are reaping the rewards of the Panthers’ desperation. Thanks to the trade, Chicago now boasts Williams, Moore, correct tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, punter Tory Taylor, and an extra 2025 second-round pick.
“We’re extremely fortunate to be in the situation we’re in,” Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham told Yahoo Sports during training camp. “We had good foresight and tried to maximize our draft position in certain moves. And I think a little bit of it [was] we got lucky, too, right?”
Lucky indeed. The Bears seem to have found the perfect recipe for Williams’ success. They’re leaning on short passes, checkdowns, and a strong run game to set up big plays downfield. This strategy keeps defenses guessing and allows Williams to showcase his improvisational skills.
“I thought he did a fantastic job extending plays,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said of Williams. “We had him dead to rights a couple of times. He wiggled out of great rushes, great pressure on him. We had things covered, and he extended the play and found completions.”
As the Bears fly high at 3-2, the 1-4 Panthers are left to ponder their costly gamble. The Young trade will likely become one of the most lopsided deals in recent NFL history. While it’s too early to write Young off completely, the contrast between him and Williams is impossible to ignore.
The Bears now head to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, riding high on their quarterback of the future. The Panthers, meanwhile, head home with more questions than answers about the player they mortgaged their future to acquire.
In the high-stakes world of NFL quarterback roulette, the house always wins. And right now, that house is in Chicago.