Matt Nagy knows that the offense can and must play better. But after Sunday’s gritty 23-16 win in Carolina raised the Bears’ record to 5-1, the coach wasn’t about to let that reality dilute the celebration.

“I don’t want to take away the excitement from our team that we’re 5-1,” Nagy said after the Bears defense recorded three takeaways and four sacks and held the Panthers to one touchdown on three red-zone possessions.