Rapid Recap: Bears take down Panthers in primetime

A strong performance by the defense and a go-ahead touchdown by D'Onta Foreman propelled the Bears to a 16-13 win over the Panthers Thursday night at Soldier Field.

The Bears defense held Carolina without a touchdown while permitting only 213 total yards and 12 first downs and registering three sacks.

Foreman scored the game's only offensive touchdown on a 4-yard run that gave the Bears a 16-10 lead midway through the third quarter.

The Panthers took a 7-0 lead on Ihmir Smith-Marsette's 79-yard punt return touchdown midway through the first quarter. Smith-Marsette, who played six games for the Bears last season, broke three tackles en route to his first career return TD.

The Bears cut the deficit to 7-3 on Cairo Santos' 54-yard field goal. It came after Santos' apparent 49-yarder was nullified by a false start on Cody Whitehair.

Carolina extended its lead to 10-3 on Eddy Piñeiro's 33-yard field goal early in the second period. The kick was set up by Bryce Young's 45-yard completion to receiver Mike Strachan to the Chicago 26.

Santos answered with two more field goals, a 36-yarder with 3:06 left in the second quarter, and a 39-yarder as time expired in the half, drawing the Bears to within 10-9. The second came after Bagent had engineered a 9-play, 70-yard drive in just 1:12.

The Bears defense opened the second half by forcing two three-and-outs. After the second, Foreman's 4-yard touchdown run gave the Bears a 16-10 lead. The game's first offensive TD came with 6:33 left in the third quarter.

The Panthers cut the deficit to 16-13 on Piñeiro's 30-yard field goal with 11:06 to play in the fourth quarter. The kick came after Kyler Gordon broke up a third-down pass intended for receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. that would have resulted in a first down.

Earlier on the drive, the Panthers faced first-and-30 after committing two penalties. But they sustained the drive as Young completed an 11-yard pass to tight end Tommy Tremble on fourth-and-6 from the Bears' 36.

Piñeiro's 59-yard field goal attempt to tie the game fell well short with 1:35 to play. The kick came on fourth-and-10 from the Bears' 41.

With the victory, the Bears improved to 3-7 and are 3-3 since their 0-4 start.