Carolina hits the road in Week 10 looking for their first regular season win in the Windy City in a Thursday night clash against the Chicago Bears.
All time, this will mark the 11th regular season matchup between the two teams with the Bears leading the series 7-3, including a 5-0 record in Chicago. The two teams last squared off in 2020 at Bank of America Stadium where the Bears defeated Carolina, 23-16. This will mark the Panthers first trip to Chicago since 2017.
The Panthers lone win in Chicago came in the divisional round of the 2005 playoffs (29-21).
The Panthers enter Week 10 with a 1-7 record after falling to the Indianapolis Colts, 27-13. Carolina has a 5-9 all-time record in games played on Thursday nights. They have won two consecutive Thursday night contests, defeating the Houston Texans in 2021 and the Atlanta Falcons in 2022.
The Chicago Bears enter the week with a 2-7 record after falling on the road to the New Orleans Saints, 24-17. The Bears have an 0-2 record against the NFC South this season after their loss to the Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 (27-17).
The Matchup
About Carolina
- The Panthers defense ranks eighth in the NFL allowing 310.0 total yards per game, fourth in the NFL allowing 178.3 passing yards per game and sixth in the league limiting opponents to a 34.7% on third down attempts.
- Linebacker Frankie Luvu tallied a game-high 11 tackles in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts, marking his second-straight game with 10+ tackles (12 against Houston in Week 8) and fourth game of the season leading or tying for the team lead in tackles.
- Through eight games, defensive end Derrick Brown has tallied 39 tackles (21 solo), one sack, six QB hits and two tackles for loss. His nine tackles in Week One are the second-most he has posted in a game in his career (12 against Atlanta in Week 8 of the 2022 season).
- Wide receiver Adam Thielen is tied for the league-lead 20 receptions on third down (209 yards). He is tied for sixth in receptions resulting in a first down (36). From Weeks 2-7, Thielen recorded at least seven receptions in six-consecutive games, the second longest streak ever by a Panthers player behind Christian McCaffrey’s run of seven straight in 2019.
- Through eight games, Bell is fourth on the team with 33 total tackles and tied for third with two passes defended despite missing Weeks 6-9 due to injury. In Week 2 against the team that drafted him in 2016, the New Orleans Saints, Bell tallied six tackles, two passes defensed and his seventh-career interception.
About Chicago
- Quarterback Justin Fields has appeared in six games on the season, completing 100-of-162 passes for 1,201 yards with 11 touchdowns and a passer rating of 91.6. Prior to being sidelined due to injury, Fields finished Week 6 as one of the NFL’s top deep ball threats while also possessing the ability to make plays with his legs.
- Quarterback Tyson Bagent made his third NFL start in Week 10 at New Orleans. He completed 18-of-30 passes for 220 yards with two touchdowns along with 70 rushing yards on eight attempts.
- Chicago’s offense has found success in then ground game, rushing for 150+ yards in five of the past six weeks. Chicago’s 1,218 rushing yards on the season rank third among all NFL teams, trailing only Baltimore (1,443) and MIami (1,331). Chicago’s 913 rushing yards in Weeks 4-9 are the second-highest total in the NFL behind Baltimore’s 969.
- Chicago has leaned on the addition of DJ Moore early in 2023. Moore’s 735 receiving yards rank sixth among all pass-catchers this season and his five touchdowns rank tied for seventh in the NFL and tied for third in the NFC. Moore had his best game of the season against Washington in Week 5, logging 230 receiving yards on eight receptions (28.8 avg.) with three touchdowns.
- The Bears defense has remained one of the best in the league since Week 4, limiting opponents to 301.2 yards per game, good for seventh among all NFL teams and fourth among NFC teams.
Connections
- Panthers LB Kamu Grugier-Hill played at Eastern Illinois from 2012-2015.
- Bears RB Darrynton Evans played college football at Appalachian State from 2016-2019.
- Bears OL Nate Davis played at Charlotte from 2015-2018.
- Bears OL Lucas Patrick played at Duke from 2011-2015.
- Bears P Trenton Gill is a native of Hillsborough, N.C., and attended Cedar Ridge HS. He went on to play college football at North Carolina State from 2017-
2021. - Bears DL Justin Jones played at North Caroliina State from 2014-2017.
- Bears DL Zacch Pickens is a native of Anderson, S.C., and attended T.L. Hanna High School. He played college football at South Carolina from 2019-
2022.
Carolina vs Chicago
All-Time Series (Regular Season): 10 matchups | Chicago leads 3-7
Last Regular Season Game: 10/18/20 | Chicago 23 vs Carolina 16
Series Record at Chicago (Regular Season): Chicago leads 5-0
How to Watch
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET Amazon Prime/WSOC: Al Michaels – Play by Play, Kirk Herbstreit – Analyst, Kaylee Hartung – Sideline
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market – Anish Shroff (Play by Play), Kurt Coleman (Color), Jim Szoke (Color), Kevin Donnalley (Sideline)
Per Release
UNC Continues to Shine into the Final Stretch