The Chicago Bears relied mostly on defense and running back D’Onta Foreman scored the team’s only touchdown against his former club in a 16-13 victory against the visiting Carolina Panthers on Thursday.
The Panthers looked to tie the game on a late drive that included two fourth-down pickups, but Eddy Pineiro missed short on a 59-yard field goal attempt with 1:35 left. Carolina (1-8) never got the ball back.
Chicago’s Cairo Santos kicked three field goals.
Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent went 20-for-33 for 162 yards, with ex-Panther DJ Moore catching five passes for a team-high 58 yards. Foreman gained 80 yards on 21 carries.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was 21-for-38 for 185 yards. He directed a 50-yard drive on Carolina’s last possession, but it resulted in no points.
There was a fourth-and-1 conversion from Carolina’s own 18. At the two-minute warning, the Panthers faced fourth-and-2 from their own 46. They picked that up on Young’s 13-yard completion to Miles Sanders, but they stalled again before attempting the long field goal.
The Bears (3-7) scored their lone touchdown of the night after winning the field-position battle in the third quarter. They took possession at the Carolina 38-yard line and needed nine plays to reach the end zone. Foreman ran 4 yards for the points.
Foreman gained 914 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns last year for Carolina.
The Panthers converted a fourth-and-6 early in the fourth quarter on Young’s 11-yard pass to Tommy Tremble. They didn’t get another first down, but they were in range for Pineiro’s 39-yard field goal to close within 16-13.
The Bears outgained the Panthers 205-97 in the first half but never held a lead.
Carolina scored first on Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s 79-yard punt return at the end of Chicago’s second possession.
The Panthers led 10-9 at halftime, also getting a 33-yard field goal from Pineiro. Santos drilled field goals from 54, 36 and 39 yards.
The Bears’ drives for first-half field goals consisted of 28 total plays and 144 yards.
