'TNF' preview: Welcome to the 'Clunker Bowl,' Panthers vs. Bears

"Thursday Night Football" was made for games like the one we get in Week 10. The Panthers (1-7) and Bears (2-7) are among the worst teams in the league, making it a perfect showcase for "TNF," a broadcast notorious for featuring clunkers over the years.

Chicago enters as the favorite, but this game could come down to who starts at quarterback for the Bears. Here's what to watch for.

WHEN THE PANTHERS ARE ON OFFENSE

Bryce Young tries to put last week behind him: Week 9 was a nightmare for Young. Just as second overall pick C.J. Stroud put the finishing touches on his masterpiece, Young was beginning his disasterpiece, if you will, throwing two pick-sixes in a 27-13 loss to the Colts. His struggles have been magnified because of Stroud's start. Still, he has a great opportunity ahead of him against a Bears defense that ranks 28th against the pass (256.9 yards per game) and is one of two units to allow a passer rating to quarterbacks over 100 for the season. 

Adam Thielen turns back the clock: Thielen is Young's first, second and third option in the passing game. Among the five Carolina wide receivers with a catch this season, Thielen has more receptions and yards than the other four have combined. His 40 percent red-zone target share is the third-highest among wideouts.

Per RotoWire, the Bears are tied for the fourth-most touchdowns allowed to wide receivers (10). Corner Jaylon Johnson is outstanding on the outside, so look for Carolina to put Thielen in favorable matchups in the slot against second-year corner Kyler Gordon. In five games, Gordon has allowed 16 receptions on 19 targets for 141 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, per Pro Football Focus, Thielen has played a career-high 71.9 percent of his snaps from the slot.

Bears pass rush with Montez Sweat: The Bears couldn't wait until free agency to give Sweat a massive $98 million extension. Instead, they traded their 2024 second-round pick to get him in the building for the meaningless final nine games of the season. In his first game as a Bear against the Saints, Sweat was second on the team with three pressures, but Chicago failed to sack Saints quarterback Derek Carr. Based on the front office's investment in Sweat, he needs to produce against the Panthers.

Bears third-down defense: Sweat will be key in helping get Young and the Panthers offense off the field. Chicago allows a 48.7 percent conversion rate on third downs, the worst in the league. That's despite the team ranking fourth in rush defense and first in yards per carry allowed (3.3 yards). Carolina's running game has been a disappointment with 2023 free-agent addition Miles Sanders, which could force the Panthers into passing situations. Per The Football Database, Young is tied with Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson for the third-most sacks taken on third down.

WHEN THE BEARS ARE ON OFFENSE

Who starts at quarterback? Chicago's chances of winning might hinge on the health of quarterback Justin Fields (thumb). He has missed the past three games while former DII quarterback Tyson Bagent, a rookie, has started in his place. 

Following an impressive performance against the Raiders in a 30-12 win, the Bears scored 30 points combined in Weeks 8 and 9 with Bagent throwing five interceptions. He was able to hurt New Orleans with his legs, gaining 70 yards on eight carries, but neither he nor Fields might have luck against the Panthers. Per RotoWire, they've allowed the fewest rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. 

Revenge game, Part 1 (D.J. Moore version): You think the Panthers wish they had Moore back? The front office traded Moore to Chicago after five seasons in Carolina. He was the Panthers' best offensive weapon and someone they weren't able to replace during the offseason. Meanwhile, he's thriving in Chicago despite the team's overall struggles. He only needs 154 yards to eclipse his receiving total from last season (888) and is averaging a career-high 81.7 yards per game. Panthers corners Donte Jackson and C.J. Henderson have struggled in coverage, giving Moore easy individual matchups to exploit.

Revenge game, Pt. 2 (D'Onta Foreman version): If it isn't Moore getting vengeance, look for Foreman to get payback against his former team. Moving on from Foreman to Sanders was quietly one of the worst decisions any team made this offseason. Foreman leads the Bears with 287 rushing yards and averages 4.4 yards per carry. Carolina is susceptible against the run, allowing a league-high 12 rushing touchdowns and ranking 31st in fantasy points allowed to running backs.

Can Carolina get stops in the red zone? The Panthers, like the Bears, have a terrible red zone defense. The teams are tied for the worst red zone touchdown rate, each allowing 21 touchdowns in 28 opportunities, but Chicago might have a better chance of capitalizing in Week 10. Its offense is seventh in red zone scoring, with 16 touchdowns in 25 attempts. Carolina's inability to stop the run could be the deciding factor when the Bears get inside the 20-yard line.