After the Panthers (1-4) took an early 7-0 lead, the Bears responded, with Williams capping a seven-play, 70-yard drive with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Moore, making the score 7-0. The score was tied at 7. Williams completed 3 of 3 passes for 48 yards, and Swift rushed for 22 yards on four carries on the possession.
Roshon Johnson’s 1-yard TD run gave the Bears a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter. The score capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive highlighted by Williams’ 26-yard pass to Moore and Swift’s 18-yard run.
The Bears’ defense forced Jaquan Brisker to hit tight end Tommy Tremble after a 9-yard reception, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Garvon Dexter Sr. at the Panthers’ 44, resulting in the first takeaway of the game. created.
On the next play, Swift caught a screen pass from Williams and weaved through the defense for a 42-yard gain to the Carolina 2. Two plays later, Swift’s 1-yard TD run extended the Bears’ lead to 21-7 with 2:14 remaining. half.
Williams threw a beautiful 30-yard TD pass to Moore, who jumped over cornerback Mike Jackson with 24 seconds to play in the first half. Cairo Santos missed a chance for an extra point, but the Bears led 27-7.
The Panthers were in position to score on the ensuing drive, but Eddie Pinheiro missed a 45-yard field goal attempt to the left on the final play of the first half.
In the first half, Williams completed 11 of 15 passes for 200 yards, two TDs, and a passer rating of 154.9. Swift rushed for 67 yards and a TD on 15 carries and caught one pass for 42 yards. Moore had three receptions for 87 yards and two TDs.
The Bears’ defense recorded its second takeaway early in the third quarter when Kevin Byard III intercepted a deep pass from Andy Dalton.
Santos’ 33-yard field goal increased the Bears’ lead to 30-7 midway through the third period. The kick came after Williams’ apparent 1-yard TD scramble was negated by Doug Kramer Jr.’s clipping penalty.
Pinheiro’s 27-yard field goal cut the lead to 30-10 with 2:10 left in the third quarter.
Tremaine Edmunds stole the ball from Hubbard after a 2-yard reception and Kyler Gordon recovered it for the Panthers’ 18 yards, giving the defense its third takeout of the game. The Bears extended their lead with a turnover that led to Johnson’s 1-yard TD run. 36-10 with 4:23 left.
“I was really proud of our guys for recovering that fumble,” Eberflus said. “To get a recovered fumble, you have to hustle like we do. The reason it doesn’t show up is because we expect everyone to punch the ball, That guy hustle because he expected the ball to go.” It only happens a few times a game, so it has to go, and I’m proud of those guys. . ”
The Bears will look for their third straight win next Sunday when they face the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
