The Chicago Bears snapped their four-game losing streak with a 16-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night at Soldier Field. The Bear’s defense was the star of the show, holding the Panthers to only 213 total yards and 12 first downs, and keeping them out of the end zone. The Bears also got a key touchdown from running back D’Onta Foreman in the third quarter to take the lead for good.
Panthers Strike First with Punt Return TD
The Panthers took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. Smith-Marsette, who played six games for the Bears last season, broke three tackles on his way to the end zone. It was the first punt return TD allowed by the Bears since 2018.
The Bear’s offense struggled to get going in the first half, settling for three field goals by Cairo Santos. The first one was a 54-yarder that came after a false start penalty on Cody Whitehair negated a 49-yarder. The second one was a 36-yarder that capped a 10-play, 55-yard drive. The third one was a 39-yarder that came as time expired in the half, after quarterback Bryce Bagent led a 9-play, 70-yard drive in just 1:12. The Bears trailed 10-9 at halftime.
Bears Defense Dominates in Second Half
The Bear’s defense came out strong in the second half, forcing two consecutive three-and-outs by the Panthers. After the second one, the Bears offense finally found the end zone, as Foreman scored on a 4-yard run to give the Bears a 16-10 lead. Foreman finished with 62 yards on 15 carries, filling in for the injured David Montgomery.
The Panthers tried to mount a comeback, but the Bear’s defense was relentless. They sacked Panthers quarterback Bryce Young three times, twice by Khalil Mack and once by Roquan Smith. They also broke up several passes, including a crucial one by Kyler Gordon on third down in the red zone, forcing the Panthers to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Eddy Piñeiro, who played for the Bears from 2019 to 2020. The Panthers cut the deficit to 16-13 with 11:06 left in the game.
The Panthers had one last chance to tie or win the game, but they faced a fourth-and-10 from the Bears’ 41-yard line with 1:35 to go. Piñeiro attempted a 59-yard field goal, but it fell well short of the crossbar. The Bears took over and ran out the clock to seal the win.
Bears Improve to 3-7, Panthers Fall to 5-5
With the win, the Bears improved to 3-7 and are 3-3 since their 0-4 start. They will face the Baltimore Ravens next week at home. The Panthers fell to 5-5 and are 1-3 since acquiring Young from the Alabama Crimson Tide. They will face the Washington Football Team next week on the road.
