Key matchup
Panthers receiver Robby Anderson — reunited with Matt Rhule, his college coach at Temple — is having a career year, with 36 receptions for 489 yards and a touchdown. The 6-3, 190-pound Anderson has three 100-yard games already after having eight in four seasons with the Jets.
The Bears’ Kyle Fuller continues to develop into a shutdown corner in his seventh season. His big hit on running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn forced a fumble that led to the go-ahead touchdown late in the first half against the Buccaneers.
Anderson is a big-play threat, with six receptions of 50 yards or more. The Bears have allowed one pass play longer than 36 yards this season: a 63-yarder from Matt Ryan to Calvin Ridley against the Falcons in Week 3.
Trending
Third-down conversions are one of many indicators of the Bears’ offensive regression in coach Matt Nagy’s three seasons.
The Bears were 11th in the NFL in third-down conversions (41%) in 2018 and dropped to 25th (36.5%) last season. Through five games this season, they are tied for 29th (33.3%, 22-for-66).
In fact, only once in five games have they been above 30 percent (9-for-16, 56% against the still-winless Giants).
The opportunity for improvement is there against the Panthers’ defense, which ranks 30th in the NFL in third-down conversions, allowing 50.8% (30-for-59).
Player to watch
Though Nick Foles has led two game-winning drives in three games since taking over for Mitch Trubisky, he hasn’t been particularly sharp (83.9 passer rating).
Where Trubisky often was up-and-down in his development, Foles is expected to have a pretty steady upward arc as he gains familiarity with Nagy’s system and develops chemistry with his offensive line, backs and receivers.
‘‘It’s just different [in games] than practice,’’ offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said. ‘‘I think he’ll keep getting better and better at . . . the speed of the game, being strong in the pocket. We’ve all seen him do those things and do them very successfully before. It’ll just keep getting better and better for him.’’
X-factor
The Bears, who have not played since Oct. 8, are 0-4 under Nagy after a bye or ‘‘mini-bye’’ (after playing on Thursday night). In only one of those losses, however, did they truly lay an egg: a 36-25 loss to the Saints — and current Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater — at Soldier Field after the bye last season. The others were overtime losses to the Dolphins and Giants and a 21-13 loss to the Packers last season at Lambeau Field.
