The Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears entered their Thursday night meeting with a combined record of 3-14. Neither team lost a turnover, but neither reached 300 yards either as their rookie quarterbacks matched pedestrian numbers.

Each team had one touchdown – with the 79-yard punt return by Carolina’s Ihmir Smith-Marsette providing the exciting moment in the contest – and Carolina’s Eddy Pineiro missed a 59-yard field-goal attempt with 1:35 to play as Chicago grinded out a 16-13 victory.

Chicago gained at least 40 yards on two of its 11 possessions, and its touchdown drive wasn’t one of them. The Bears had to go only 38 yards after the Panthers punted from their end zone. Chicago running back D’Onta Foreman cashed in a 4-yard touchdown run as the Bears took a 16-10 lead with 6:33 left in the third quarter.

The Panthers had three possessions after Chicago took the lead. Carolina punted from the Bears 45 on fourth-and-5, got a 39-yard field goal from Pineiro on fourth-and-5 from the Chicago 20 and tried a 59-yard field goal on fourth-and-10 at the Bears 41. Although the Panthers were 3-of-15 on third down, they were 3-of-3 on fourth down, including two on the final possession.

In his fourth NFL start, undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent completed 20-of-33 passes for 162 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was not sacked on Thursday night.

The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young completed 21-of-38 passes for 185 yards with no touchdown and no interceptions. The former Alabama All-American had 18 of Carolina’s 43 rushing yards on three carries.

In addition to Young, seven other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field in the Carolina-Chicago game:

· Bears fullback Khari Blasingame (Buckhorn) was designated as a game-day inactive. A concussion kept Blasingame sidelined.

· Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) started at center for the Panthers.

· Panthers guard Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Derrick Brown (Auburn) started at defensive end for the Panthers. Brown made 10 tackles, recorded two tackles for loss and registered two quarterback hits. Brown had the second double-digit tackle game of his career, joining his 12 tackles in a 37-34 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 20, 2022.

· Panthers running back Spencer Brown (Mortimer Jordan, UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Eddie Jackson (Alabama) started at safety for the Bears. Jackson made two tackles.

· Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (Saraland) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Panthers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn) made two tackles on defense and one on special teams. Carolina elevated Leota from its practice squad and to make him eligible to play. The Panthers have elevated Leota for three consecutive games. To play again this season, Leota will have to be added to the active roster.

· Bears cornerback Christian Matthew (Samford) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Panthers tight end Jordan Matthews (Madison Academy) did not record any stats. Matthews played in an NFL regular-season game for the first time since Oct. 31, 2021.

· Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) started at wide receiver for the Bears. Mooney had two receptions for 14 yards. Mooney caught an 8-yard pass on third-and-7 with 42 seconds to play and Carolina out of timeouts to seal the victory.

· Panthers defensive tackle LaBryan Ray (James Clemens, Alabama) made one tackle.

· Panthers linebacker Chandler Wooten (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

At noon CST Nov. 19, Chicago (3-7) visits the Detroit Lions and Carolina (1-8) hosts the Dallas Cowboys.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.