Chicago
Bears
7-6
22
FINAL
34
Carolina
Panthers
9-4
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling Divisional Round matchup, the Carolina Panthers topped the Chicago Bears 34-22, securing their place in the next round of the playoffs. This victory not only propels the Panthers forward but also highlights their resilience at home in a high-stakes postseason clash.
Bryce Young was the star of the night for Carolina, throwing for 148 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his ability to deliver under pressure. KJ Duff was his primary target, contributing 57 receiving yards, while the Panthers' offense capitalized on key moments to maintain their lead. On the other side, Kyle Monangai provided a spark for the Bears with an impressive 160 rushing yards, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Panthers' aerial attack.
Defensively, the Panthers made crucial plays when it mattered most, led by Nate Wiggins' five total tackles and Jamel Johnson's game-changing interception. The turning point came late in the third quarter when Johnson picked off a pass, shifting momentum back to Carolina and allowing Young and the offense to extend their lead. The Panthers' defense held firm, ultimately securing the victory and a spot in the next round of the playoffs.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Young | QB | 16 | 9 | 148 | 3 | 0 | 127.0 |
| Caleb Williams | QB | 22 | 9 | 102 | 0 | 1 | 36.5 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Monangai | HB | 22 | 160 | 7.3 | 2 | 53 | 1 |
| Gavin Sawchuk | HB | 10 | 125 | 12.5 | 1 | 57 | 0 |
| Caleb Williams | QB | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KJ Duff | WR | 2 | 57 | 28.5 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | WR | 3 | 52 | 17.3 | 2 | 25 | 0 |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | 2 | 36 | 18.0 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
| Colston Loveland | TE | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Evan Stewart | WR | 2 | 23 | 11.5 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Luther Burden III | WR | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Zavion Thomas | WR | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Rome Odunze | WR | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Cole Kmet | TE | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Gavin Sawchuk | HB | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Wiggins | CB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jayden Jackson | DT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Malaki Starks | FS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jaycee Horn | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jamel Johnson | SS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Brown | DT | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Ross | REDG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Woods | FS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Montez Sweat | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Okereke | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Brian Branch | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Henry Daley | REDG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaxton Eck | SAM | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Devin Lloyd | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Davis | DT | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jackson Kuwatch | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaelan Phillips | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T.J. Edwards | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kenny Clark | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chau Smith-Wade | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Tyrique Stevenson Sr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dillon Thieneman | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kyler Gordon | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jaylon Johnson | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fitzgerald | K | 2 | 2 | 4 | 44 |
| Jason Myers | K | 3 | 3 | 1 | 56 |

