These Bears had the best PFF grades in Week 10’s win over Panthers

The morning after a primetime win should feel better than Week 10’s does for the Chicago Bears. Maybe it’s because the team is still far from a relevant playoff squad. They are 3-7, after all.

But a win is a win, and there are several positives from the Bears upending the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night.

Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent did what solid backups are supposed to do while the starter is out for a month with an injury. If the Bears were a competitive team, his 2-2 record would be a welcome result. Sure, some of the shine has worn off his incredible story, going from an undrafted free agent from Division II to the potential answer to Chicago’s quarterback curse. But Bagent is here to stay as the Bears’ QB2, at worst.

That said, Bagent’s Pro Football Focus grade … wasn’t great. He had the second-lowest grade on offense with a 49.3. His passing grade (48.8) was the worst of his rookie season so far.

On the flip side, Lucas Patrick, of all players, was the Bears’ highest-graded player on offense with a 74.0 … a solid but unspectacular score.

The fact Patrick was the Chicago Bears’ top player on offense summarizes Thursday night well. It was a boring offensive output featuring running back D’Onta Foreman and his 3.8 yards per carry.

By the way, Foreman earned the Bears’ third-highest offensive grade from PFF with a 72.6.

The most impressive score on the Bears’ offense belonged to Braxton Jones. He was just behind Patrick with a 73.5, but his 87.9 pass-blocking score bordered on elite.

Braxton Jones vs. the Panthers

37 snaps
2 pressures allowed
0 sacks allowed
87.9 pass blocking grade (1st among Bears players)

pic.twitter.com/dP8F6zIrn7

— PFF CHI Bears (@PFF_Bears) November 10, 2023

Jones missed six games with a neck injury. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 9 against the Saints. He was rusty. But he looked every bit like the left tackle the Chicago Bears hope he can consistently be against a Panthers defense that, admittedly, was without its best pass rusher in Brian Burns.

Bears defense earns high Pro Football Focus grades

The Chicago Bears’ defense powered Week 10’s victory. They harassed Bryce Young and stuffed the Panthers’ running game. It was a solid all-around performance that included three sacks, which is something Bears fans aren’t used to seeing. Chicago only had 10 sacks on the season entering Thursday night.

Pro Football Focus grades reflect the defense’s strong performance, too.

Four Bears defenders scored 78.6 or higher: Kyler Gordon (84.6), Jack Sanborn (82.5), Zacch Pickens (80.9), and Andrew Billings (78.6).

Kyler Gordon vs. the Panthers:

9 targets
5 receptions allowed, 26 yards
1 forced incompletion
84.5 PFF grade (1st among Bears players)

pic.twitter.com/bDx5zsK2nf

— PFF CHI Bears (@PFF_Bears) November 10, 2023

Gordon was especially fantastic. He lived up to his Spider-Man nickname, for sure. He flew around the field and was equal parts sticky in coverage and physical against the run. He registered an elite 90.5 run defense grade.

Sanborn, meanwhile, continues to prove the Bears may have overspent on Tremaine Edmunds in free agency. He’s been fantastic the last two weeks while Edmunds has been out with a knee injury. He was a big reason why the Panthers only managed 43 rushing yards on 16 carries. He had the Bears’ highest run-defense grade (79.6).

And how about Billings? The big man in the middle of the Bears’ defensive line continues to be one of the best players on the entire team. His 78.5 run defense grade trailed only Sanborn. Chicago was smart to re-sign him to a two-year extension a few weeks ago.

On the wrong end of the Chicago Bears’ PFF defensive grades were Jaylon Johnson (53.1), DeMarcus Walker (53.1), and Yannick Ngakoue (37.5.).

Ngakoue’s low score is a bit surprising. He was more active as a pass rusher Thursday night, finishing tied for second on the team with three pressures and one sack.

Up next for the Chicago Bears are the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. It’ll be a massive leveling up in competition that should include the return of Justin Fields to the starting lineup. We’ll see if the Bears can carry the momentum of Week 10’s win into a divisional game that at least now has a sliver of intrigue.