Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats: Every Number That Mattered

You want clean, reliable Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats after the game, but most box scores bury the numbers you actually care about under cluttered layouts and confusing abbreviations. Scrolling through five different tabs just to compare quarterback ratings wastes your time. This guide pulls every key stat into one organized, easy-to-read breakdown so you get the full picture in minutes.

A Quick Look at the Rivalry

The Bears and Panthers have met 22 times since Carolina joined the NFL in 1995. Chicago holds a slight edge in the all-time series at 13-9. These two NFC teams rarely play each other, which makes every matchup feel fresh and unpredictable.

When you pull up Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats from past meetings, you notice a pattern of close, low-scoring games. Neither club has consistently outperformed the other.. Their most memorable postseason clash came in the 2005 NFC Divisional Round, where Chicago won 29-21 at Soldier Field behind a suffocating defensive effort.

The Most Recent Matchup: September 13, 2026

Carolina hosted Chicago at Bank of America Stadium for a Week 1 showdown. Both teams entered the season with questions at key positions, and the opener set the tone for the months ahead.

The Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats from this game tell a story of a Bears offense finding its rhythm late. Carolina’s defense held strong through the first half before Chicago’s ground game took over in the third quarter. The final score read 24-17 in favor of the Bears.

Team Totals and Efficiency Comparison

Looking at the raw Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats side by side reveals where each team gained its advantage on Sunday afternoon.

Chicago controlled the clock and won the rushing battle decisively. Carolina moved the ball through the air but could not sustain drives on the ground. You can verify these team totals and full game logs on NFL.com.

Complete Quarterback Matchup and Passing Stats

The quarterback battle shaped the entire game. Caleb Williams connected on 19 of 28 attempts for 198 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His passer rating landed at 82.1.

Bryce Young threw for 204 yards on 22 of 35 attempts with one touchdown and two picks. His rating came in at 64.5. When you compare the Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats at the quarterback position, Williams made fewer mistakes and converted more third-down opportunities.

Rushing Leaders and Ground Game Performance

Chicago’s rushing attack carried the second half. D’Andre Swift led all runners with 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. His 5.3 yards per carry average kept the Bears ahead of the chains all afternoon.

Carolina’s top rusher managed just 41 yards on 12 attempts. The Panthers averaged 3.1 yards per carry as a team, which stalled drives and forced Young into obvious passing situations. The Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats in the rushing column show the clearest gap between the two rosters.

Receiving Production and Target Breakdown

DJ Moore caught 6 passes on 8 targets for 72 yards against his former team. Rome Odunze added 5 receptions for 61 yards and the Bears’ only passing touchdown. Both receivers created separation in the intermediate middle of the field.

For Carolina, Adam Thielen hauled in 7 catches for 81 yards. He remained Young’s most reliable option on third down. The Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats in the receiving game stayed relatively even, but Chicago’s receivers picked up more yards after the catch.

Defensive Plays, Turnovers, and Sacks

Chicago’s defense generated consistent pressure all game. Montez Sweat recorded two sacks and four tackles, disrupting Young’s timing on multiple dropbacks. The Bears forced two fumbles and recovered one in the fourth quarter to seal the outcome.

Carolina’s defense started hot but faded after halftime. The Panthers managed only one sack and allowed Swift to find open lanes in the second half. The Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats on defense highlight Chicago’s ability to create takeaways at critical moments. You can explore full defensive logs at Pro Football Reference.

Step-by-Step Game-Changing Moments

Three plays swung the momentum in this game. In the second quarter, Young threw an interception to Jaylon Johnson at the Chicago 30-yard line, killing a potential scoring drive right before halftime.

Early in the fourth quarter, Swift broke a 22-yard run that set up the go-ahead touchdown. Then with four minutes left, Sweat strip-sacked Young, and Chicago recovered to run out the clock. Each of these moments shows up clearly when you study the Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats play by play.

What the Numbers Tell Us About Each Team

Chicago’s offense showed real balance. The Bears ran the ball effectively on early downs, which opened up play-action passes in the second half. Their offensive line gave Williams a clean pocket on 78% of his dropbacks.

Carolina’s offense leaned too heavily on short passes. The Panthers averaged just 4.8 yards per play and struggled to generate explosive gains downfield. The Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats reveal a Carolina team that moved the ball between the 20s but stalled inside the 30.

Looking Back: How the Rivalry Has Unfolded Over Time

This rivalry stretches back to 1996, when the expansion Panthers visited Soldier Field for the first time. Over the decades, the series has featured tight defensive battles and a handful of blowouts on both sides.

The 2005 playoff game remains the high point. That Bears team rode a dominant defense all the way to the Super Bowl, and the Carolina matchup tested them early in January. Historical Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats show that home teams win roughly 60% of meetings in this series.

Why Player Stats Matter in This Matchup

Raw numbers only tell part of the story. Context matters. A quarterback’s completion percentage means less when most throws land behind the line of scrimmage. Rushing yards per carry tells you far more than total rushing yards alone.

When you analyze Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats with this lens, the Bears’ efficiency on third down and in the red zone stands out as the real difference. Carolina gained yards between the 20s but could not finish drives. Check out advanced efficiency metrics at ESPN.

Final Thoughts and Fan Community Takeaways

Chicago earned this win by controlling the line of scrimmage and limiting mistakes. The Bears’ running game wore down Carolina’s front seven, and the defense created turnovers when the game hung in the balance.

Carolina showed flashes on offense but needs to fix its third-down conversion rate and red-zone execution before Week 2. If you bookmark this page, you can return anytime to review the full Chicago Bears vs Carolina Panthers Stats from this matchup. Share your take in the comments and tell us which stat surprised you the most.

What is the all-time record between the Bears and Panthers?

Chicago leads the all-time series 13-9 through the 2026 season. The two teams have met once in the postseason, with Chicago winning that 2005 Divisional Round game at Soldier Field.

Who holds the single-game rushing record in this matchup?

Matt Forte set the mark with 166 rushing yards in a 2012 Bears victory over Carolina. That performance remains the top individual rushing output in the history of this series.How often do these teams play each other?

The Bears and Panthers typically meet once every three to four years due to the NFL’s rotating divisional schedule. They play more frequently when both finish in the same division standing the prior season.