The NFL butterfly effect is real.
Don’t believe me, ask Chicago Bears fans and Carolina Panthers fans about David Tepper’s decision not to hire Ryan Poles as the Panthers’ general manager.
Tepper’s decision to pass on Poles meant he would eventually land with the Chicago Bears. From there, Poles would go on to swing the trade that would send these two franchises in seemingly opposite directions.
For Chicago, this trade tree branches out with the Bears getting wide receiver D.J. Moore, quarterback Caleb Williams, right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, punter Tory Taylor, and the Panthers’ second-round pick in 2025. And for Carolina, it meant getting quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft — and a whole mess of heartbreak since. In addition to posting the NFL’s worst record last year, the Panthers have since benched Young and fired the head coach who was supposed to bring him to prominence.
So, for as much as I love discussing The Trade, we really should be talking about The Decision that Tepper made. Or, more precisely, the one he didn’t make.
How to Watch the Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers
FOX-TV (Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma Megan Olivi)
TV Maps: 506 Sports
ESPN 1000 AM (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Jason McKie), MIX 93.5 FM (Omar Ramos, Miguel Esparza – Spanish broadcast); Westwood One Radio (Ryan Radtke, Mike Golic)
Streaming: NFL+, DAZN/Game Pass International
Chicago Bears (2-2) vs. Carolina Panthers (1-3)
Kickoff Time: Noon CT
Site: Soldier Field; Chicago, IL
Referee: Tra Blake
Odds: Bears -4, O/U 41 (via DraftKings)
Starting QBs and Projected Game Stats
Bears: Caleb Williams: 20/32, 216 pass yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 4 carries, 18 rush yards
Panthers: Andy Dalton: 20/33, 231 pass yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 2 carries, 7 rush yards
GAME PREVIEW: Bears vs Panthers — October 6, 2024
Bears Projected Starters
Offense
- QB – Caleb Williams
- RB – D’Andre Swift
- WR – DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen
- TE – Cole Kmet
- OL – Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, Matt Pryor, Darnell Wright
Defense
- DL – Montez Sweat, Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter St., DeMarcus Walker
- LB – T.J. Edwards, Tremaine Edmunds
- CB – Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon
- S – Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker
Specialists
- Cairo Santos (kicker), Tory Taylor (punter, holder), Scott Daly (long snapper), DeAndre Carter (kick and punt returner)
Inactives
- Wide receiver/running back Velus Jones Jr.
- Fullback Khari Blasingame
- Defensive back Terell Smith
- Defensive lineman Zacch Pickens
- Defensive lineman Dominique Robinson
Panthers Projected Starters
Offense
- QB – Andy Dalton
- RB – Chuba Hubbard
- WR – Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo
- TE – Tommy Tremble
- OL – Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton
Defense
- DL – A’Shawn Robinson, Shy Tuttle, Jayden Peevy
- LB – Charles Harris, Claudin Cherelus,
Josey Jewell(he’s been ruled out on Carolina’s injury report), Jadaveon Clowney - CB – Michael Jackson, Jaycee Horn
- S – Xavier Woods, Nick Scott
Specialists
- Eddy Piñeiro (kicker), Johnny Hekker (punter, holder), JJ Jansen (long snapper), Raheem Blackshear (kick and punt returner)
Inactives
- Safety Russ Yeast
- Running back Mike Boon
- Linebacker Josey Jewell
- Center Andrew Raym
- Guard Jarrett Kingston
- Defensive end Jayden Peevy