Windy City Wrap Up: Bears Have Flying Start Against Panthers

September means football season is officially here. The Bears mauled the Carolina Panthers in the opening game of the season but struggled after losing Caleb Williams to injury against the Minnesota Vikings. The Chicago Fire experienced late season woes, and the Stars got knocked out of playoff contention.

The White Sox opened their week with two home losses to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2 and 2-0 Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, respectively.

They then went on the road to St. Louis, where they fell 2-1 in their series against the Cardinals. Their win came Sept. 12, 6-5, when pinch hitter Randal Grichuk came up clutch in the top of the ninth, hitting a go-ahead two-run home run. Closing pitcher Bryan Hudson was put in position to strike out one and record a save. Losses came Sept. 11 and Sept. 13, 7-3 and 3-1, respectively.

Still on the road, they next faced the Cleveland Guardians. The Sox took the opening game Sept. 14 with a huge six-run sixth inning that lifted them to a 7-3 victory. Third baseman Miguel Vargas capped the performance with a home run. They were unable to repeat these results the next two days, losing 7-6 and 6-3.

The Detroit Tigers were the Sox’s next opponent in a four game series at home. The Sox won game one 3-1 Sept. 17, courtesy of first baseman Munetaka Murakami’s three run blast in the bottom of the first. Pitcher Erick Fedde tossed four and a half scoreless innings, registering six strikeouts. The second game Sept. 18 saw the Sox lose 11-8 despite having a six run lead in the third. 

In game three, the Sox won 3-1. Vargas hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and was walked twice. In game four, he walked another three times. Second baseman Chase Merideth hit two home runs to bring his home run tally for the season to 15.

Sept. 9 saw the Cubs lose to the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6 on the road.

The Cubs continued their week winning a three game series at Wrigley against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1. They started the series Sept. 11, thumping the visitors 12-2. Third baseman Alex Bregman hit his 25th home run of the season, and first baseman Michael Busch registered three RBIs. 

Busch hit a home run the next day when he and second baseman Pedro Ramirez both hit solo shots off Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, the Cubs winning 4-3. They fell short the next day, losing the game 4-3, but still took the series.

A home series against the Atlanta Braves was next. The first game, Sept. 14, was a 7-3 win for the Cubs. The highlight of the night was center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong’s two-run home run, which saw him draw level with Billy Williams’ record for most left-handed home runs in a season at 42. 

He would go on to break that record Sept. 16, launching two over the fence in an 8-4 win. Bregman got one of his own, and was a single shy of the cycle. A Sept. 15 loss at 6-3 meant the Cubs again took the series 2-1.

A road series against the Cincinnati Reds was next. The Cubs lost the first game 6-4 Sept. 18. They won the next two days, taking 5-2 and 9-1 wins. Michael Busch hit his 20th home run of the season on the first of the two wins, his third time in four seasons reaching that mark.

Chicago Fire FC faced Inter Miami Sept. 9. Striker Robert Lewandowski continued his good run of form by scoring an acrobatic goal in the 10th minute to put the Fire up 1-0. Defensive midfielder Casemiro put the game back on level terms with a header just after halftime. The Chicago goalkeeper had six saves as the two Eastern Conference juggernauts played out a one-all draw.

They then faced the New England Revolution on Sept. 13, falling 2-1. Midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie’s goal in the 62nd was not enough to overcome a 2-0 deficit as keeper Matt Turner registered five saves to bring all three points back to New England.

In a matchup against Nashville SC Sept. 19, the Fire fell short, 3-0, conceding five shots on target over the 90 minutes.

The Chicago Sky lost to the Washington Mystics Sept. 17, 110-80. They then played the Atlanta Dream Sept. 19, losing 106-81.

Chicago Stars FC faced Portland Thorns FC Sept. 13, with a late equalizer from midfielder Taylor Wood in the 90+2 minute rescuing a point. They drew at one goal apiece. They then lost Sept. 20, 3-0 against the Washington Spirit.

The Bears opened their season with a convincing victory over the Carolina Panthers. The two teams played the highest scoring opener in NFL history, with the final score being 59-37. 

Quarterback Caleb Williams passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another two. Running back D’Andre Swift rushed for three touchdowns and 124 yards while running back Kyle Mongangai picked up a rushing touchdown and 100 yards on ten carries. 

Tight end Cole Kmet and wide receiver Jahdae Walker caught two touchdowns each,while cornerback Malik Muhammad picked off Carolina’s Quarterback Bryce Young once, and the Panthers fumbled twice.

In their second game of the season, the Bears took a loss against the Minnesota Vikings Sept. 20. In what was mostly a battle of the defenses, the Bears let up three field goals and scored one of their own, with the final score being 9-3. 

Caleb Williams went down with a pulled hamstring in the fourth quarter but hasn’t been ruled out of their week three matchup. He’s considered week-to-week, according to Head Coach Ben Johnson.

The White Sox sit three games ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays in the final American League (AL) wildcard spot. They’re only one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.

The Cubs currently hold the top National League (NL) wildcard spot but are tied on record with the San Diego Padres. The Philadelphia Phillies sit in the third spot and are only one game behind the Cubs and Padres. The Milwaukee Brewers have clinched the NL Central division title.

Ex-U.S. Women’s National Team Manager Vlatko Andonovski was named the new head coach of the Chicago Stars Sept. 17. The Stars will focus on next season after being mathematically knocked out of a playoff berth, sitting last in the National Women’s Soccer League table on 17 points. They next play against Gotham FC Sept. 25.

The Chicago Fire play next Sept. 26 at Charlotte FC, who sit just above them in fourth place of the Eastern Conference.

The Bears next play against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field Sept. 28 at 7:15 p.m. The game is available to watch on ABC or ESPN. 

The Chicago Sky play next against the Washington Mystics on Sept. 24 in Washington D.C.

The White Sox will play away at the Kansas City Royals Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 to conclude a three game series. The Cubs play at home against the Miami Marlins Sept. 23 and Sept. 24.