PREDICTIONS

The Sun- Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ game Sunday at Carolina:

RICK MORRISSEY Panthers, 20- 17:

Neither team has exactly lit the world on fire, and neither has beaten many quality opponents. But Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is second in the league in completion percentage ( 73.4), and the Bears still aren’t sure about their new QB, Nick Foles. Season: 3- 2.

RICK TELANDER

Bears, 20- 19: The

Bears as a 4- 1 team somehow does not compute. But not much makes sense this season. Foles and Bridgewater are the quarterbacks in this matchup. Last season, they were with the Jaguars and Saints, respectively. And nobody had ever heard of COVID- 19. Season: 2- 3.

PATRICK FINLEY

Bears, 18- 17: The Panthers’ three wins have come against teams with a combined three victories. The Bears’ four wins have come against teams with a combined four victories. Is either team any good? Does it matter? I’ll take the one that had 10 days to prepare, but I don’t feel great about it. Season: 4- 1.

JASON LIESER

Bears, 24- 16: The Panthers aren’t as good as their 3- 2 record looks, but maybe that’s true for the 4- 1 Bears, too. Regardless, this is a game the Bears should and will win. True progress would be controlling it from start to finish. Season: 2- 3.

MARK POTASH

Bears, 23- 17: The Panthers have won three straight under first- year coach Matt Rhule, but this is a good matchup for the Bears, who have run the ball well against average- to- poor run defenses. Season: 2- 3.