THREE TAKEAWAYS

Three observations from the Bears’ victory Sunday against the Panthers:

Cole under pressure

Rookie tight end Cole Kmet, who had one catch on three targets entering the game, caught his first NFL touchdown pass in the first quarter. A covered Kmet wasn’t the first option on the nine-yard pass, but Nick Foles threw to him on a post route.

‘‘It was just an awesome feeling,’’ said Kmet, who played at St. Viator and Notre Dame.

Someone was there to see it. His mom, Kandace, sat in Section 205 as one of the roughly 5,200 fans allowed in.

‘‘She was waving like a madwoman pregame,’’ Kmet said. ‘‘I found her and gave a little wave. She was pumped up.’’

DHC

Backup safety DeAndre HoustonCarson broke up a pass by Tom Brady to seal the Bears’ victory against the Buccaneers and intercepted the Panthers’ Teddy Bridgewater to do the same. Houston-Carson, who was playing dime coverage only because Deon Bush is hurt, hadn’t intercepted a pass before.

‘‘He’s come up so big in these situations, and that’s what it’s all about,’’ coach Matt Nagy said.

Fuller throttle

Cornerback Kyle Fuller was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the second quarter for hitting receiver Keith Kirkwood and forcing an incompletion, even though replays showed him hitting Kirkwood’s shoulder with his own. Fuller has delivered bone-jarring hits all season. He was fined for one in the opener and forced a fumble against the Bucs.

‘‘We love him making big plays like that,” inside linebacker Roquan Smith said. ‘‘Big hits. So that’s pretty awesome. I think we have an edge.’’

— Patrick Finley