Bears vs. Panthers: 3 keys for Chicago's offense in Week 5

Intro: The Chicago Bears exceeded everyone's decreasing expectations by getting a much-needed victory over the Los Angeles Rams at home last week, getting the Bears to a stable 2-2 record and having the fanbase in high spirits. The Bears are now faced with a prime opportunity to flip the script and get to a winning 3-2 record after taking on the Carolina Panthers, who's quarterback issues have resulted in a turbulent season.

Chicago will likely not see 2023 first overall selection Bryce Young, who's not shown any improvement in his second year, and it'll likely be former Bear Andy Dalton under center for Carolina. Dalton has breathed new life into a despondent Panthers' squad, leading them to a Week 3 win in his first start with the team. Even with their sudden revitalization, the fact remains that the Panthers are a young team that lacks top-end talent at several positions, setting the scene for one of Chicago's most winnable games of the year.

The offense amended much of their shortcomings in Week 4, but there's still major room for improvement, from rookie QB Caleb Williams' passing unit to the ground attack. Week 5 provides a testing ground for the offense to continue to hone their craft, so let's break down the three keys for Chicago's offense in Week 5.

1. Utilize the deep passing game

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had a breakthrough in leading several scoring drives last week, methodically moving the chains and scoring on a prolonged drive. They found their groove by deploying a patient, balanced offense that relied on both the run and pass game to produce chunk plays, and the unit was never forced to shift to a different tactic. While Williams did do a good job of staying poised in the pocket and not forcing the ball downfield, his determination to not mistake made him turn down a few throws down the field that would've been huge gains.

Williams has demonstrated an encouraging trend of improving each game, so now it's about taking the next step and melding both philosophies together: retain that willingness to take what the defense gives, and also allow plays to develop and take shots vertically. The Panthers has struggled in coverage this season, allowing at least two passing touchdowns in three out of the four games they've played. Their secondary is a devoid of any playmakers that can truly matchup with Chicago's talented receiving corps, so Williams should a plentiful amount highlight throws in Week 5.

2. Run the ball effectively

It goes without saying that finding success in the run game would be a key to a productive offense, but it's worth mentioning here because last week was the first time it's had any significant impact at all. Everything clicked into place against the Rams last Sunday, with the Bears' 131 yards on the ground being highlighted by an electric 36-yard touchdown run by D'Andre Swift, with his 93 yards rushing being his best performance on the year. I'd be remiss to not mention the invaluable efforts of reserve Roschon Johnson, as well, who complemented Swift's agility with his own bruising running style, which was utilized in short yardage situations. Grinding out yards on the ground was the crutch the offense leaned on in Week 4, so they'll need to continue to be the passing game's anchor and be just as effective as they were last week.

Chicago will line up across a Carolina front that is without any sort of disruptive player that could prove to be too much for the offensive line to handle. Their defense has been ravaged by injuries, leaving only defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson and veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney as the only players who may be troublesome to block. The Bears' running backs may be in for a big day if the offensive line plays like they did last Sunday.

3. Build on last week's momentum

Chicago is coming into what will probably be their easiest stretch of the season, going up against the 1-3 Panthers and 0-4 Jaguars the next two weeks at home, leading to a bye week. The Bears somehow managed to emerge out of the first quarter of the year with a stead 2-2 record, meaning that the club could very well be at almost unbelievable 4-2 record before enjoying their week off. Too often have the Bears regressed to their same crippling habits and let winnable games slip out of their hands, so they're tasked with taking the right lessons away from last week's win and putting that knowledge on the field in Week 5.

It'd be no exaggeration to say both this week and next week's games are a "must win." Chicago's next four games after the bye are against Washington, Arizona, New England and Green Bay, and at least three of those teams can cause real trouble for the Bears. Playing breakout rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in Washington feels a lot better at 4-2 rather than a disappointing 3-3 or, even worse, a deflating 2-4. Chicago needs to improve on both their strengths and weaknesses in Week 5 and ensure the Soldier Field celebrates a win.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Panthers: 3 keys for Chicago's offense in Week 5