The 2-7 Chicago Bears are playing the 1-7 Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field in a Week 10 matchup. Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent completed 14 of 24 passes for 127 yards in the half as the Bears settled for three Cairo Santos field goals. Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, completed 7 of 14 passes for 63 yards in the half.
The 2-7 Chicago Bears are playing the 1-7 Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field in a Week 10 matchup. Here’s what you need to know.
In a game focused on rookie quarterbacks, a big special teams play was the highlight of the first half between the Bears and Panthers.
Panthers returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette weaved his way around multiple Bears defenders for a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter, and the Panthers rode the play to a 10-9 halftime lead.
Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent completed 14 of 24 passes for 127 yards in the half as the Bears settled for three Cairo Santos field goals. D’Onta Foreman had 10 carries for 34 yards.
Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, completed 7 of 14 passes for 63 yards in the half.
Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell missed a tackle just after Smith-Marsette caught Trenton Gill’s punt with about 6 minutes to play in the first quarter. Smith-Marsette shot through a couple of holes up the middle of the field before beating Gill one-on-one near the Bears 35-yard line. He then cruised the rest of the way for his first career return touchdown and a 7-0 Panthers lead.
Santos made a 54-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3 with 2:34 to play in the first quarter. Santos had made a previous attempt, but Cody Whitehair was called for a false penalty, pushing Santos back 5 yards.
Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro, a former Bear, made a 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter to extend the Panthers’ lead to 10-3. Santos then cut it to 10-6 on a 36-yard field goal with 3:10 to play in the second quarter.
The Bears started that drive on their 47 after the defense came up with a big stop at the Panthers 9-yard line. The Bears pressured Young on three straight plays, with Justin Jones coming up with the sack on third down.
Before Santos’ field goal, the Bears went for it on fourth-and-4 at the Panthers 36, and Bagent hit Tyler Scott with a 15-yard pass to keep the drive alive.
