Carolina put up 37 points in their Week 1 regular-season debut, but letting the Chicago Bears hang 59 points on them? That is a straight-up defensive meltdown, no matter how “high-powered” Chicago’s offense might be. The PFF grades for the 16 new faces, including 11 veterans and five rookies, are already painting a clear, and frankly, concerning picture of what went wrong in this brutal loss.
Offensive Line Gets Some Bright Spots, But Other Guys Are Already Under Pressure
On the offensive side, not everyone had a rough go. Left tackle Rasheed Walker had an impressive debut, logging 68 snaps with a 79.7 overall PFF grade. He absolutely crushed it in pass protection, earning a team-best 88.6 grade and allowing just one pressure across 43 pass-blocking opportunities. That is the kind of rock-solid protection you need from a new guy. Darren Waller made his presence felt too, snagging two receptions for 28 yards, though a touchdown for him got wiped out by an offensive pass interference call early in the game. Even AJ Dillon and Kenny Pickett got some snaps in, with grades in the 70s and 60s respectively.
But then there is the O-line’s struggles. Center Luke Fortner, with 61 snaps, ended up with the third-lowest pass-blocking grade at 65.7 and was charged with three pressures over 41 chances. Rookie first-round pick Monroe Freeling, playing right tackle for 61 snaps, fared even worse in pass protection, notching the second-lowest pass-blocking grade at 62.0 and allowing a team-high four pressures, including one sack. On the bright side, Freeling did show out in the run game, pulling in Carolina’s second-highest run-blocking grade at 77.5. It’s early, but those pass protection numbers for key linemen are definitely something to watch.
The Defensive Debuts: From Sack Machines to Absolute Disasters
The defense, however, is where the real head-scratching numbers popped up. While the unit as a whole was gashed for 59 points, some individuals tried to make an impact. Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips recorded one of the defense’s two sacks and tied for a team-high four pressures. Inside linebacker Bobby Okereke had a solid outing, leading the team with an 81.5 tackling grade and an 80.7 pass-rushing grade, alongside six total tackles. Rookie defensive linemen Aaron Hall and Lee Hunter also showed flashes, with Hunter tying Okereke for the highest pass-rushing grade at 80.7 and tallying a team-high five stops.
But the biggest red flag? Without a doubt, it is fellow starting inside linebacker Devin Lloyd. His 31.9 overall defensive grade was the lowest on the entire team, and his coverage grade of 36.7 was just as bad. He allowed seven catches for 58 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Ouch. Rookie cornerback Will Lee III also had a tough debut after recovering a fumble on the opening drive, getting hit with team-lows in run defense (28.0) and tackling (26.5). Giving up 59 points is a problem, and when you have multiple new guys struggling that badly, it’s a huge cause for concern that needs fixing immediately.
This kind of defensive showing in Week 1 is a brutal reality check. The PFF grades tell a story of some promising individual flashes, but also a glaring weakness, especially with Lloyd’s disastrous outing. The coaching staff has to address these defensive woes fast because if they keep letting opponents rack up 59 points, it’s going to be a very long season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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