The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ game Sunday at the Panthers:
RICK MORRISSEY
Panthers 20-17
Neither team has exactly lit the world on fire, and neither has beaten many quality opponents. But Carolina’s Teddy Bridgewater is second in the league in completion percentage (73.4), and the Bears still aren’t sure about their new quarterback, Nick Foles. Season: 3-2.
RICK TELANDER
Bears 20-19
The Bears as a 4-1 team somehow does not compute. But nothing much makes sense this season. Foles and Bridgewater are the quarterbacks in this matchup. Last season they were with the Jaguars and Saints, respectively. And nobody’d ever heard of COVID-19. Season: 2-3.
PATRICK FINLEY
Bears 18-17
The Panthers’ three wins have come against teams with a combined three victories. The Bears’ four have come against teams with four total victories. Is either team any good? Does it matter? I’ll take the one that had 10 days to prepare, but I don’t feel great about it. Season: 4-1.
JASON LIESER
Bears 24-16
The Panthers aren’t as good as their 3-2 record looks, but maybe that’s true for the 4-1 Bears, too. Regardless, this is a game the Bears should and will win. True progress would be controlling it from start to finish. Season: 2-3.
MARK POTASH
Bears 23-17
The Panthers have won three straight under first-year coach Matt Rhule, but this is a good matchup for the Bears, who have run the ball well vs. average-to-poor run defenses. Season: 2-3.
