Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears: 2012 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2012 NFL season on 2012-10-28, the Chicago Bears took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 23–22 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 19 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with +9.13 total EPA, and -8.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.13 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+41.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Chicago Bears changed the game: (:04) (Field Goal formation) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Passing · +9.13 total EPA · 47 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
2. 2 B. LaFell · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +5.90 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.48 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +4.45 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.48 EPA/play
4. 4 E. Bennett · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.90 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.72 EPA/play
5. 5 K. Davis · Chicago Bears · Receiving · +2.57 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.57 EPA/play
6. 6 B. Hartsock · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.56 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.56 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Tolbert · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.47 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.47 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Stewart · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.43 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Chicago Bears — M. Forte (Q1 49:37)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Newton (Q2 44:57)
• Chicago Bears — K. Davis (J. Cutler pass) (Q4 6:58)
• Chicago Bears — T. Jennings (Q4 6:52)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — J. Medlock (Q1 47:06)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Medlock (Q2 34:41)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Medlock (Q3 21:51)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Medlock (Q3 16:35)
• Carolina Panthers — J. Medlock (Q4 2:32)
• Chicago Bears — R. Gould (Q4 0:04)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 7–3. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the CAR 13 (Q1 49:37) — (4:37) 22-M.Forte right guard for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q1 49:32) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the CHI 16 (Q1 47:06) — (2:06) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The second quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 10–0. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CHI 9 (Q2 44:57); Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the CHI 2 (Q2 44:45) — 6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the CHI 13 (Q2 34:41) — (4:41) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 6–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the CHI 4 (Q3 21:51) — (6:51) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the CHI 25 (Q3 16:35) — (1:35) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman..

The fourth quarter: Chicago Bears won the period 16–3. Chicago Bears found the end zone from the CAR 12 (Q4 6:58) — (6:58) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 87-K.Davis for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Chicago Bears added 1 points from the CAR 2 (Q4 6:52) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.; Chicago Bears found the end zone from the CHI 80 (Q4 6:52); Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the CHI 27 (Q4 2:32) — (2:32) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.; Chicago Bears connected on a field goal from the CAR 23 (Q4 0:04) — (:04) (Field Goal formation) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Chicago Bears (Q4 0:04) — (:04) (Field Goal formation) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh. [WPA +41.1% · EPA +0.60]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 6:52) — (6:52) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 89-S.Smith INTERCEPTED by 26-T.Jennings at CAR 25. 26-T.Jennings for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -39.2% · EPA -7.50]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 30:47) — (:47) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short right intended for 88-G.Olsen INTERCEPTED by 26-T.Jennings [90-J.Peppers] at CHI 43. 26-T.Jennings to CHI 45 for 2 yards (88-G.Olsen). [WPA -18.7% · EPA -2.80]
• Chicago Bears (Q2 30:14) — (:14) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 41 for -8 yards (95-C.Johnson). FUMBLES (95-C.Johnson), RECOVERED by CAR-95-C.Johnson at CHI 39. 95-C.Johnson to CHI 39 for no gain (72-G.Carimi). [WPA -17.7% · EPA -1.45]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 45:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 24 for -8 yards (95-C.Johnson). FUMBLES (95-C.Johnson) [95-C.Johnson], RECOVERED by CAR-90-F.Alexander at CHI 16. 90-F.Alexander to CHI 16 for no gain (60-L.Lo [WPA -13.4% · EPA -4.71]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Carolina Panthers (Q4 6:52) — (6:52) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 89-S.Smith INTERCEPTED by 26-T.Jennings at CAR 25. 26-T.Jennings for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -39.2% · EPA -7.50]
• Chicago Bears (Q1 45:43) — (:43) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler sacked at CHI 24 for -8 yards (95-C.Johnson). FUMBLES (95-C.Johnson) [95-C.Johnson], RECOVERED by CAR-90-F.Alexander at CHI 16. 90-F.Alexander to CHI 16 for no gain (60-L.Lo [WPA -13.4% · EPA -4.71]
• Carolina Panthers (Q1 49:32) — (4:32) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep middle to 11-B.LaFell to CHI 18 for 62 yards (26-T.Jennings). [WPA +8.8% · EPA +4.37]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 18:16) — (3:16) 1-C.Newton pass deep left to 89-S.Smith to CHI 25 for 47 yards (26-T.Jennings). [WPA +5.0% · EPA +3.36]

Quarterback report card

C.Newton led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 47 dropbacks · 42.6% completion · -8.3% CPOE · +0.19 EPA/play · +9.13 total EPA
• J.Cutler (Chicago Bears) · 37 dropbacks · 51.4% completion · +2.4% CPOE · -0.20 EPA/play · -7.49 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Carolina Panthers +0.00, Chicago Bears -0.04) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, +0.42 total EPA, 7 scoring drives
• Chicago Bears: 12 drives, -2.53 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Chicago Bears leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Newton (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q1 49:37 · CAR 13 · Score 0-6
   (4:37) 22-M.Forte right guard for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q1 49:32 · CAR 2 · Score 0-7
   9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
3. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 47:06 · CHI 16 · Score 3-7
   (2:06) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
4. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 44:57 · CHI 9 · Score 9-7
   (14:57) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton scrambles right guard to CHI 1 for 8 yards (21-M.Wright). FUMBLES (21-M.Wright), recovered by CAR-83-L.Murphy at CHI -5. TOUCHDOWN.
5. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 44:45 · CHI 2 · Score 10-7
   6-J.Medlock extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 34:41 · CHI 13 · Score 13-7
   (4:41) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
7. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 21:51 · CHI 4 · Score 16-7
   (6:51) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 22 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
8. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 16:35 · CHI 25 · Score 19-7
   (1:35) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
9. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 6:58 · CAR 12 · Score 19-13
   (6:58) (Shotgun) 6-J.Cutler pass short middle to 87-K.Davis for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Chicago Bears XP (+1) — Q4 6:52 · CAR 2 · Score 19-14
    9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.
11. Chicago Bears TD (+6) — Q4 6:52 · CHI 80 · Score 19-20
    (6:52) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass short left intended for 89-S.Smith INTERCEPTED by 26-T.Jennings at CAR 25. 26-T.Jennings for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 2:32 · CHI 27 · Score 22-20
    (2:32) (Field Goal formation) 6-J.Medlock 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-8-B.Nortman.
13. Chicago Bears FG (+3) — Q4 0:04 · CAR 23 · Score 22-23
    (:04) (Field Goal formation) 9-R.Gould 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-65-P.Mannelly, Holder-8-A.Podlesh.