The Bears posted a convincing 36-10 win over the Panthers in the first half

CHICAGO – Quarterback Caleb Williams scored first to lead the Chicago Bears to a stunning victory at Soldier Field on Sunday.

The Bears jumped out to a 20-point halftime lead and defeated the Carolina Panthers 36-10. They improved to 3-2 when they traveled to London this week to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 13th.

Williams threw for 304 yards — including 200 in the first half — on 20-for-29 passing.

After their slow start together had been a storyline all week leading up to the game, Williams and wide receiver DJ Moore connected on touchdown passes of 34 and 30 yards in the first half. Moore, playing against the team that traded him in the 2023 offseason, had five catches for 105 yards.

Running back D'Andre Swift had 73 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and Roschon Johnson scored two rushing touchdowns.

The Bears defense totaled three takeaways. Jaquan Brisker forced a fumble that Gervon Dexter recovered in the first half. Kevin Byard intercepted Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton's deep shot intended for Jonathan Mingo early in the third quarter. And Tremaine Edmunds forced a fumble that nickel Kyler Gordon recovered in the fourth.

Dalton, making his third start in place of the benched Bryce Young, completed 18 of 28 passes for 136 yards in the game before the Panthers gave Young time late in the fourth quarter. The Panthers entered the game with several key players injured and lost four starters during the game.

The Bears followed Byard's choice with Cairo Santos' 33-yard field goal. They had a second-and-goal at the 1-yard line, but a clipping penalty on Doug Kramer negated a Williams touchdown run. Williams threw two incompletions and the Bears settled for the field goal.

They took advantage of Gordon's fumble recovery as Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. They failed on a two-point conversion attempt and took a 36-10 lead. A fight broke out after the touchdown and Bears guard Matt Pryor and Panthers cornerback Jayce Horn were disqualified.

The Panthers' only points in the second and third quarters came on Eddy Pineiro's 27-yard field goal.

Bears left guard Teven Jenkins suffered an ankle injury late in the first half and did not return. The Bears had Bill Murray replace him instead of signing Nate Davis. But Davis replaced Pryor after the expulsion.

This is how the game developed:

Halftime: The Bears lead the Panthers 27-7

The Caleb Williams-DJ Moore connection arrived for the Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Williams hit Moore for touchdown passes of 34 and 30 yards in the first half, and the Bears used a balanced offensive attack to take a commanding 27-7 halftime lead over the Panthers.

Williams completed 11 of 15 passes for 200 yards and the two touchdowns. Running back D'Andre Swift added 15 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown, and Roschon Johnson also scored a touchdown in the half.

Meanwhile, the Panthers' offense gained 139 yards — including 64 net passing yards — and had one turnover.

The Panthers scored first when Chuba Hubbard broke free for a 38-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. One player earlier, the Panthers kept the drive alive with Diontae Johnson's 4-yard gain on fourth-and-1.

But on the next drive, Williams tied the score by hitting Moore for the 34-yard scoring strike, the longest touchdown pass of his career, with 5:44 left in the first quarter. Williams and Moore had scored their first touchdown in Week 4, a 9-yarder.

Swift gained 22 yards on four runs on the drive.

The Bears marched 80 yards on their next drive, capped by Johnson's 1-yard touchdown run. Williams threw a 23-yard pass to Moore to get the drive going. Williams also scrambled for 6 and 5 yards on first downs, and Swift broke off an 18-yard run on the drive.

On their fourth drive, the Bears attempted a fourth-and-1 at the Panthers' 39-yard line, but the Panthers stopped Johnson to no avail.

The Bears defense got the ball back two plays later. Safety Jaquan Brisker knocked the ball loose from Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble, and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter recovered it and gave the ball to the Bears at the Panthers' 44-yard line.

The Bears capitalized on that. Swift took a short Williams pass 42 yards for a 2, and two plays later he scored a 1-yard touchdown run for a 21-7 lead.

The Bears scored their final touchdown of the half with 30 seconds left in the game. Williams found Cole Kmet for a 25-yard pass and two plays later he sent a dart toward Moore, who made a nice diving catch. Cairo Santos' attempt to score an extra point was of no use.

Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro missed a 45-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the half.

Inactive: Teven Jenkins and DeAndre Carter are active

Bears left guard Teven Jenkins and wide receiver DeAndre Carter will be active Sunday against the Panthers at Soldier Field.

Jenkins and Carter were listed as questionable Friday as they recovered from rib injuries.

The Bears previously declared defensive tackle Zacch Pickens and cornerback Terell Smith out.

Also inactive are wide receiver/running back Velus Jones Jr., defensive end Dominique Robinson and fullback Khari Blasingame.

The Panthers previously ruled out linebacker Shaq Thompson, who was placed on injured reserve, linebacker Josey Jewell and center Andrew Raym.

Panthers safety Russ Yeast, running back Mike Boone, guard Jarrett Kingston and defensive end Jayden Peevy are inactive.

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