Panthers vs. Bears Point Spread: TNF Week 10 Odds, Prediction
These teams face off in the Windy City on Thursday night to kick off Week 10 with the Bears as 3.5-point favourites on the NFL odds.
Thursday Night Football Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Chicago Bears haven’t picked first overall in the NFL Draft since 1947. They could have chosen first this year but opted to give third-year quarterback Justin Fields the benefit of the doubt and traded away the pick in a QB top-heavy draft to Carolina, which took Alabama QB Bryce Young first overall. He has disappointed in the early going, but the rebuilding Panthers have a lot of problems.
You would have to say the Bears won that trade so far as they got the No. 9 and No. 61 overall picks in 2023, a first-round pick in 2024, a second-round pick in 2025 and star wide receiver D.J. Moore in the deal. Moore has largely been great, the team took bedrock offensive tackle Darnell Wright with that 2023 first-round Panthers pick (the Bears moved down one spot in trade from No. 9 to No. 10 to get Wright) and could earn the No. 1 overall pick again next year because Carolina has just one victory so far.
Chicago leads the all-time series against Carolina 7-4 including playoffs. The last meeting was in Charlotte in 2020 and the Bears won 23-16. Nick Foles and Teddy Bridgwater were the QBs that day, but both are long gone. Moore had five catches for 93 yards for Carolina.
Carolina Panthers
Carolina’s offensive troubles continued Sunday in a 27-13 home loss to Indianapolis, which entered having allowed at least 37 points in three straight games. Panthers QB and rookie No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young had three more picks, two of them returned for touchdowns. Carolina probably would be better right now with veteran Andy Dalton under centre but Coach Frank Reich (whose job reportedly might be in trouble already in Year 1) isn’t about to ruin the confidence of Young, the supposed franchise saviour. It’s certainly not all on Young as he now been sacked 26 times in seven starts. He was hit seven times Sunday and hurried on a number of other occasions. The 1-7 start matches the worst in franchise history. Three key defenders in pass-rusher Brian Burns (concussion), cornerback C.J. Henderson (concussion) and safety Xavier Woods all left injured Sunday and all are in doubt on a quick turnaround.
Chicago Bears
Chicago hasn’t had starting QB Justin Fields since he injured his thumb on Oct. 15 against Minnesota. Undrafted free agent rookie Tyson Bagent, a former Division II star, has been playing since then and has shown enough to likely stick around in the NFL as a long-term backup – although he’ll probably end up starting again this week with the quick turnaround. Fields hasn’t been officially ruled out as of this writing. Bagent threw for 220 yards and two TDs in Sunday’s 24-17 loss in New Orleans but had three picks, and turnovers have been a problem for Bagent. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds left with a knee injury and is day-to-day. Top safety Jaquan Brisker was out in the concussion protocol but cleared it Monday and will play.
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