D’Onta Foreman ran for a touchdown as the Chicago Bears rallied to a 16-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers in a battle of NFL divisional underdogs on Thursday.
Foreman’s four-yard run put the Bears up 16-10 in the third quarter and they led by three with 1:40 left when Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro failed on a 59-yard field goal attempt to effectively seal a Chicago. earn.
At 3-7, the Bears are still at the bottom of the NFC North division, led by the 6-2 Detroit Lions.
But the win over Carolina had implications beyond the game as the Bears own the Panthers’ top pick in next year’s NFL Draft thanks to an offseason trade that allowed the Panthers to select quarterback Bryce Young with the first pick in this year’s draft, and sent wide receiver DJ Moore to the Bears.
Now 1-8, the Panthers are tied for the worst record in the league with the Arizona Cardinals, who face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
With quarterback Justin Fields sidelined again with a dislocated right thumb, rookie Tyson Bagent made his fourth straight start for the Bears.
He threw for 162 yards with no turnovers – expiating a four-turnover performance against New Orleans on Sunday – and earned his second win as a starter.
Carolina had taken an early advantage on Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s 79-yard punt return for a touchdown.
They led 10-9 at halftime, the Bears’ points in the first half all came from three Cairo Santos field goals.
Young had another rough night. He was sacked three times and threw three incompletions during the Panthers’ futile final drive.
