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Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers Pick & Prediction OCT 18TH 2020
The Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers are among the NFL's early surprises.
The teams are riding waves of success as they meet Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
"We believe in each other," Panthers running back Mike Davis said. "The first two weeks were us, basically, I think just trying to figure out who we were. Now, we just really just want to come in and be the toughest team you can play."
The Panthers (3-2) try to extend their winning streak to four games. They produced a four-game winning stretch last fall before the season went sour.
The Bears (4-1) have found various ways to get the job done so far.
"We don't have any complacency," Bears receiver Allen Robinson II said. "None of our quarterbacks are complacent. Our receivers aren't complacent. Nobody is walking around here satisfied."
The Bears compiled four victories by a combined margin of 13 points, including the 20-19 decision Oct. 8 against visiting Tampa Bay.
The Bears have had a few extra days of preparation before the trip to Charlotte to count their good fortune.
But off-field concerns emerged for Chicago last weekend. Offensive lineman Badara Traore, a member of the Bears' practice squad, became the team's first player to test positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the season.
The Bears adjusted their practice routine this week, with a walkthrough and off-field work Monday. Players had a day off Tuesday.
"We wanted to put everything back on track (for Wednesday)," coach Matt Nagy said.
The Bears are addressing shortcomings on offense. They struggled in the 19-11 home loss Oct. 4 to the Indianapolis Colts. Chicago ranks near the NFL's bottom in scoring, total offense, rushing offense and third-down efficiency.
"None of it is effort. None of it is not caring," Nagy said. "But darn it, when you play in this offense, you better be freaking detailed. And we're not a detailed football team on offense right now. And we need to get that back."
The Bears have used Nick Foles as the starting quarterback the past two games. That puts Mitchell Trubisky likely on the sideline for a return to the state where he played in college as a standout for North Carolina.
The rushing attack tends to have put the Bears on heightened alert. They're averaging 95.4 yards per game on the ground.
"I have a lot of faith in our run game, I really do," Nagy said. "(There are) different ways on how we're going to get back to it. There's no panic at all. We know we can be so much better on offense. It's just putting that thing together. You can't over-think it. ... All that said, the positive in all of this is we're 4-1."
The Panthers have had moments of success on offense despite a stagnant second half with only a field goal in last week's 23-16 victory at Atlanta. Carolina is also staying alert as it relates to the coronavirus due to news of a positive test from a member of the Falcons.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has completed 73 percent of his passes for the second-best mark in the NFL.
"We just look at who is the next opponent," Bridgewater said. "We try not to look too far back because this is a new team, so all we can control is just how hard we work each day and we focus on that."
The Panthers haven't allowed a sack in the past two games. They hadn't gone consecutive games without yielding a sack since the third and fourth games of the 2011 season.
"I think it's always all of them," Panthers coach Matt Rhule said of the reason for the protection. "It's also the guys getting open. When guys get open quickly you have a chance to get rid of the ball out of your hand."
Panthers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey is eligible to return after missing three games with a high ankle sprain, but he won't be on the field this weekend.
Stand-in Davis appeared in seven games, including one as a starter, last year for the Bears. Chicago receiver Ted Ginn Jr. is a former Panther.
Davis said he always runs with a chip on his shoulder. That will be the case again this week against his former club. Davis has been productive as a receiver as well, with 30 receptions tying him with Saints running back Alvin Kamara for tops among running backs. He's been difficult to bring down, and might be hard to move out of a big role when McCaffrey is cleared.
"Most of the time I'm just really pissed off when I'm out there," Davis said.
Rhule said Wednesday that defensive tackle Kawann Short will be out due to season-ending shoulder surgery.
Safety Jeremy Chinn, who's Carolina's top tackler, leads all NFL rookies with 43 tackles. Bears backup safety Deon Bush didn't practice Wednesday because of a hamstring ailment.
This is the first meeting between the teams since the Bears won in 2017 in Chicago. The Panthers are 3-1 at home in the series, including a 2014 victory the last time Chicago visited.
--Field Level Media
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Chicago Bears
Carolina Panthers
Player | Position | Lineup |
---|---|---|
Rashaad Coward | primary: Offensive Linesman | Starter |
Kyle Fuller | primary: Cornerback | Starter |
Akiem Hicks | primary: Defensive Tackle | Starter |
Eddie Jackson | primary: Safety | Starter |
Charles Leno Jr. | primary: Left Tackle | Starter |
Khalil Mack | primary: Outside Linebacker | Starter |
Bobby Massie | primary: Right Tackle | Starter |
Anthony Miller | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
David Montgomery | primary: Runningback | Starter |
Bilal Nichols | primary: Nose Tackle | Starter |
Allen Robinson II | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
Buster Skrine | primary: Defensive Back | Starter |
Roquan Smith | primary: Inside Linebacker | Starter |
Danny Trevathan | primary: Inside Linebacker | Starter |
Cody Whitehair | primary: Center | Starter |
Demetrius Harris | primary: Tight End | Starter |
Jimmy Graham | primary: Tight End | Starter |
Nick Foles | primary: Quarterback | Starter |
Germain Ifedi | primary: Right Guard | Starter |
Robert Quinn | primary: Outside Linebacker | Starter |
Jaylon Johnson | primary: Cornerback | Starter |
Tashaun Gipson Sr. | primary: Safety | Starter |
Alex Bars | primary: Offensive Linesman | Substitution |
DeAndre Houston-Carson | primary: Defensive Back | Substitution |
Joel Iyiegbuniwe | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Sherrick McManis | primary: Defensive Back | Substitution |
Ryan Nall | primary: Runningback | Substitution |
Pat O'Donnell | primary: Punter | Substitution |
Cordarrelle Patterson | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Roy Robertson-Harris | primary: Defensive End | Substitution |
Javon Wims | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Josh Woods | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
J.P. Holtz | primary: Tight End | Substitution |
Sam Mustipher | primary: Center | Substitution |
James Vaughters | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Brent Urban | primary: Defensive End | Substitution |
Patrick Scales | primary: Long Snapper | Substitution |
Barkevious Mingo | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Cole Kmet | primary: Tight End | Substitution |
Kindle Vildor | primary: Defensive Back | Substitution |
Darnell Mooney | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
John Jenkins | primary: Defensive Tackle | Substitution |
Artavis Pierce | primary: Runningback | Substitution |
Ted Ginn Jr. | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Cairo Santos | primary: Kicker | Substitution |
Mario Edwards Jr. | primary: Defensive End | Substitution |
Deon Bush | primary: Defensive Back | Not active |
Riley Ridley | primary: Wide Receiver | Not active |
Duke Shelley | primary: Defensive Back | Not active |
Mitchell Trubisky | primary: Quarterback | Did not play |
Jason Spriggs | primary: Offensive Linesman | Did not play |
Trevis Gipson | primary: Linebacker | Not active |
Arlington Hambright | primary: Offensive Linesman | Not active |
Player | Position | Lineup |
---|---|---|
Brian Burns | primary: Defensive End | Starter |
Mike Davis | primary: Runningback | Starter |
Chris Manhertz | primary: Tight End | Starter |
DJ Moore | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
Taylor Moton | primary: Right Tackle | Starter |
Matt Paradis | primary: Center | Starter |
Chris Reed | primary: Left Guard | Starter |
Shaq Thompson | primary: Weak Outside Linebacker | Starter |
Russell Okung | primary: Left Tackle | Starter |
Tre Boston | primary: Free Safety | Starter |
Juston Burris | primary: Strong Safety | Starter |
John Miller | primary: Right Guard | Starter |
Tahir Whitehead | primary: MIKE Linebacker | Starter |
Stephen Weatherly | primary: Defensive End | Starter |
Zach Kerr | primary: Defensive Tackle | Starter |
Teddy Bridgewater | primary: Quarterback | Starter |
Seth Roberts | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
Robby Anderson | primary: Wide Receiver | Starter |
Derrick Brown | primary: Defensive Tackle | Starter |
Jeremy Chinn | primary: Strong Outside Linebacker | Starter |
Troy Pride Jr. | primary: Cornerback | Starter |
Rasul Douglas | primary: Cornerback | Starter |
Alex Armah | primary: Fullback | Substitution |
Jermaine Carter | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Corn Elder | primary: Cornerback | Substitution |
Marquis Haynes | primary: Defensive End | Substitution |
Donte Jackson | primary: Cornerback | Substitution |
J.J. Jansen | primary: Long Snapper | Substitution |
Greg Little | primary: Offensive Tackle | Substitution |
Joey Slye | primary: Kicker | Substitution |
Ian Thomas | primary: Tight End | Substitution |
Brandon Zylstra | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Pharoh Cooper | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Keith Kirkwood | primary: Wide Receiver | Substitution |
Bravvion Roy | primary: Defensive Tackle | Substitution |
Stantley Thomas-Oliver III | primary: Cornerback | Substitution |
Colin Thompson | primary: Tight End | Substitution |
Myles Hartsfield | primary: Defensive Back | Substitution |
Sam Franklin | primary: Safety | Substitution |
Michael Schofield | primary: Guard | Substitution |
Joseph Charlton | primary: Punter | Substitution |
Adarius Taylor | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Trenton Cannon | primary: Runningback | Substitution |
Julian Stanford | primary: Linebacker | Substitution |
Austin Larkin | primary: Defensive End | Substitution |
Trent Scott | primary: Offensive Tackle | Substitution |
Efe Obada | primary: Defensive End | Substitution |
Dennis Daley | primary: Guard | Not active |
Will Grier | primary: Quarterback | Not active |
Woodrow Hamilton | primary: Defensive Tackle | Not active |
Curtis Samuel | primary: Wide Receiver | Not active |
P.J. Walker | primary: Quarterback | Did not play |
Eli Apple | primary: Cornerback | Not active |
Chicago Bears
Carolina Panthers
- Match Start
- Period 1
-
MIN 5
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 21 Yards
- FG Kicker: Joey Slye
-
MIN 11
- scoring-play
- Touchdown
- Pass
- 9 Yards
- Pass Receiver: Cole Kmet
- Passer: Nick Foles
- Conv Kicker: Cairo Santos
- Period 2
-
MIN 0
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 55 Yards
- FG Kicker: Cairo Santos
-
MIN 2
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 20 Yards
- FG Kicker: Joey Slye
-
MIN 8
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 31 Yards
- FG Kicker: Cairo Santos
- Period 3
-
MIN 1
- scoring-play
- Touchdown
- Rush
- 1 Yards
- Conv Kicker: Cairo Santos
- Rusher: Nick Foles
- Period 4
-
MIN 7
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 48 Yards
- FG Kicker: Joey Slye
-
MIN 9
- scoring-play
- Field Goal
- 31 Yards
- FG Kicker: Cairo Santos
-
MIN 13
- scoring-play
- Touchdown
- Rush
- 1 Yards
- Rusher: Mike Davis
- Conv Kicker: Joey Slye
- Match End
GAMES
Last 10
- @New Orleans L 9 - 21
- Green Bay L 35 - 16
- @Jacksonville W 41 - 17
- @Minnesota W 33 - 27
- Houston W 7 - 36
- Detroit L 34 - 30
- @Green Bay L 25 - 41
- Minnesota L 19 - 13
- @Tennessee L 17 - 24
- New Orleans L 26 - 23
- New Orleans L 33 - 7
- @Washington W 20 - 13
- @Green Bay L 16 - 24
- Denver L 32 - 27
- @Minnesota L 27 - 28
- Detroit W 0 - 20
- Tampa Bay L 46 - 23
- @Kansas City L 31 - 33
- Atlanta L 25 - 17
- @New Orleans L 24 - 27
Last Meetings
American Football Conference
AFC East | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buffalo Bills | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7-1 | 6-2 | 9-0-1 |
Miami Dolphins | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 5-3 | 7-0-3 |
New England Patriots | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 2-6 | 5-0-5 |
New York Jets | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 11.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1-7 | 1-7 | 2-0-8 |
AFC North | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh Steelers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7-1 | 5-3 | 6-0-4 |
Cleveland Browns | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 5-3 | 7-0-3 |
Baltimore Ravens | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 6-2 | 6-0-4 |
Cincinnati Bengals | 4 | 11 | 1 | .267 | 7.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 1-6 | 3-1-7 |
AFC South | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis Colts | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 5-3 | 7-0-3 |
Tennessee Titans | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 6-2 | 6-0-4 |
Houston Texans | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 3-0-7 |
Jacksonville Jaguars | 1 | 15 | 0 | .063 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1-7 | 0-8 | 1-0-10 |
AFC West | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas City Chiefs | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 8-0 | 9-0-1 |
Las Vegas Raiders | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 6-2 | 5-0-5 |
Los Angeles Chargers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4-4 | 3-5 | 5-0-5 |
Denver Broncos | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 3-5 | 3-0-7 |
National Football Conference
NFC East | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington Football Team | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 4-4 | 6-0-4 |
New York Giants | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 5-0-5 |
Dallas Cowboys | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4-4 | 2-6 | 4-0-6 |
Philadelphia Eagles | 4 | 11 | 1 | .267 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-4 | 1-7 | 3-1-7 |
NFC North | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green Bay Packers | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7-1 | 6-2 | 8-0-2 |
Chicago Bears | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 5-3 | 3-0-7 |
Minnesota Vikings | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3-5 | 4-4 | 6-0-4 |
Detroit Lions | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1-7 | 4-4 | 2-0-8 |
NFC South | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Orleans Saints | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 6-2 | 8-0-2 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5-3 | 6-2 | 7-0-3 |
Carolina Panthers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 3-5 | 2-0-8 |
Atlanta Falcons | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 3-0-7 |
NFC West | W | L | D | PRC | GB | HOME | AWAY | PA | ST | L10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seattle Seahawks | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7-1 | 5-3 | 7-0-3 |
Los Angeles Rams | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6-2 | 4-4 | 6-0-4 |
Arizona Cardinals | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4-4 | 4-4 | 4-0-6 |
San Francisco 49ers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1-7 | 5-3 | 3-0-7 |
Last Injuries
Trends
Carolina Trends
- TrendOver is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 games as a home underdog of 10.5 or greater.Hit %80.00% (5)O/U4|1Push0W/L
- TrendOver is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 games as a favorite.Hit %80.00% (5)O/U4|1Push0W/L
- TrendOver is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 games as a home underdog.Hit %80.00% (5)O/U4|1Push0W/L
- TrendUnder is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0.Hit %80.00% (5)O/U1|4Push0W/L
Chicago Trends
- TrendOver is 6-2 in Bears last 8 games as a favorite of 10.5 or greater.Hit %75.00% (8)O/U6|2Push0W/L
- TrendUnder is 4-0 in Bears last 4 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.Hit %100.00% (4)O/U0|4Push0W/L
- TrendUnder is 9-3 in Bears last 12 games as a road underdog.Hit %75.00% (12)O/U3|9Push0W/L
- TrendUnder is 6-1 in Bears last 7 games as a road underdog of 10.5 or greater.Hit %85.70% (7)O/U1|6Push0W/L
Meetings Trends
- TrendUnderdog is 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings.Hit %85.70% (8)O/UPush1W/L1|6