Montez Sweat impact was evident vs. Panthers
The Chicago Bears had a solid defensive performance on Thursday Night Football from their most recent, and newly extended, addition to the roster. Montez Sweat truly make his impact known in Chicago under the bright lights after a quiet Bears debut just a short week ago. Sweat was a part of the Bears pass rush […]
The Chicago Bears had a solid defensive performance on Thursday Night Football from their most recent, and newly extended, addition to the roster.
Montez Sweat truly make his impact known in Chicago under the bright lights after a quiet Bears debut just a short week ago. Sweat was a part of the Bears pass rush that tormented Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young for all four quarters.
This is the type of performance Bears fans were hoping to see from their new star, whom general manager Ryan Poles traded a high second-round pick for and signed to a massive four-year, $98 million extension. After last night, it seemed to be worth it.
Sweat was tied for a team-high three QB hits on Thursday along with defensive tackle Justin Jones. According to Next Gen Stats, Sweat also led the team with eight QB pressures, the most by a Bears pass rusher since Robert Quinn in Week 13, 2020. No other player on the Bears had more than 4.
Although fans would point to the fact Sweat still hasn't recorded a sack in his first two games in Chicago, his presence alone was able to open things up for the rest of the team's defensive line.
"He's really starting to free guys up," Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said after the Thursday Night win. "Which is what a good rusher does. He really starts to free guys up on the inside and on the other side because he draws attention just the way he rushes. I think his impact is going to be more and more as we go."
That type of impact is exactly why the Bears sought a premier edge rusher at the trade deadline. The Bears had a league-low 10 sacks entering into the 2024 trade deadline and needed to make a splash. Thursday's game showed that splash paid off.
The attention Sweat received from the Panthers offensive line and pass protection allowed the rest of the Bears pass rushers to end the night with three combined sacks. Yannick Ngakoue, Justin Jones and Rasheem Green all recorded a sack against the Panthers in the win.
The result proved that Poles was correct in making a heavy investment into Sweat, and gave the Bears something to be proud of defensively while the team showed out on a national stage.
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