THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 10: CAROLINA PANTHERS AT CHICAGO BEARS

BY ADAM GREENE

Oh God. Oh no. Oh God no. Just when you thought nothing could be worse than watching the Denver Broncos on Thursday night football, the NFL Schedulers toss this load of refuse onto the middle of the table. Yes, gird your loins (I said gird them!) as the Carolina Panthers travel to The Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football.

This will just be the 12^th meeting all time between the two franchises with Chicago boasting (that’s a word choice) a 7-4 advantage in the series. They last met on Oct. 18, 2020, with the Bears winning 23-16. Nick Foles was 23 of 39 passing for 198 yards, one touchdown and an interception in the win. He also rushed for a score. David Montgomery (now with the Detroit Lions) rushed 19 times for 58 yards. Allen Robinson (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) caught five passes for 53 yards.

In the loss, Teddy Bridgewater (now also with the Lions) was 16 of 29 passing for 216 yards, no touchdowns and two picks. Mike Davis carried the ball 18 times for 52 yards and a TD. DJ Moore (now with the Bears) caught five passes for 93 yards.

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT CHICAGO BEARS (-3.5, O/U: 40)

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.

Broadcast: Amazon Prime

Kickoff: Nov. 9, 8:15 p.m.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-7)

Last week the Panthers surrendered 20 points in the second quarter on their way to a 27-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Bryce Young, coming off his first win in the NFL, fell back down to Earth with a thud, going 24 of 39 passing for 173 yards, one touchdown and three picks in the loss. He was sacked four times. Chuba Hubbard led the team in rushing with 16 carries for 58 yards. Hayden Hurst caught two passes for 54 yards. The defense sacked Garnder Minshew once and held the Colts rushing offense to a total of 78 yards.

CHICAGO BEARS (2-7)

The Tyson Bagent era might have ended as most of us expected. No, not with the cops finding a functional meth lab in his locker, but with a 24-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Bagent was 18 of 30 passing for 220 yards, two touchdowns and three picks in the loss. He rushed eight times for 70 yards and was sacked twice. D’Onta Foreman had 20 carries for 83 yards. Darnell Mooney caught five passes for 82 yards. Cole Kmet hauled in six passes for 55 yards and two TDs. The defense never laid a glove on Derek Carr but did hold the Saints to just 87 yards on the ground.

THE PICK

Justin Fields is listed as day-to-day and I’d feel better about his chances of playing if this game was on Sunday. As it is, we just have to accept this is what we’re getting on TNF while Scott Hanson of NFL Redzone just breathes a sigh of relief since he won’t have to toss to this one even once. With Fields, Bears 27, Panthers 13. Without Fields, Bears 20, Panthers 17

Last week

Straight up: 11-5

Against the spread: 10-6

Season

Straight up: 75-47

Against the spread: 65-57

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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