The Bears defeated the Panthers 16–13 on Thursday night at Soldier Field thanks to a solid defensive effort and a touchdown by D’Onta Foreman.
The Bears defense allowed just 213 total yards and 12 first downs, had three sacks, and kept Carolina without a score.
Halfway through the third quarter, Foreman ran 4 yards for the game’s lone offensive touchdown, giving the Bears a 16-10 advantage.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s 79-yard punt return touchdown early in the first quarter gave the Panthers a 7-0 lead. In order to score his first career return touchdown, Smith-Marsette, who appeared in six games for the Bears the previous season, broke three tackles.
After a 54-yard field goal by Cairo Santos, the Bears’ lead was reduced to 7-3. It happened after a false start on Cody Whitehair rendered Santos’ apparent 49-yard touchdown ineffective.
Eddy Piñeiro’s 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter gave Carolina a 10-3 lead. Bryce Young’s 45-yard pass to receiver Mike Strachan at the Chicago 26 set up the kick.
Santos responded by making two more field goals, a 36-yarder with 2:06 remaining in the half and a 39-yarder with the clock running out, bringing the Bears to within 10–9. Bagent had only 1:12 to craft a 9-play, 70-yard drive before the second one.
Two three-and-outs were forced by the Bears defense to start the second half. The Bears led 16–10 after the second quarter thanks to a 4-yard touchdown run by Foreman. Three quarters of 6:33 remained to score the first offensive touchdown of the game.
With 11:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, Piñeiro’s 30-yard field goal brought the Panthers closer to 16-13. After Kyler Gordon intercepted a third-down pass intended for receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., which would have led to a first down, the kick was made.
The Panthers had committed two penalties earlier in the drive, which put them in first-and-30 position. However, they managed to continue the drive when, on fourth and 6, from the Bears’ 36, Young found tight end Tommy Tremble for an 11-yard throw.
With 1:35 remaining in the game, Piñeiro’s 59-yard field goal attempt to tie the score was a complete bust. On fourth-and-10, from the Bears’ 41, came the kick.
The Bears moved to 3-7 with the win and have gone 3-3 since their 0-4 start.
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