CHICAGO — Quarterback Caleb Williams achieved a first on Sunday at Soldier Field — leading the Chicago Bears to a blowout victory.

The Bears jumped to a 20-point halftime lead and cruised to a 36-10 rout of the Carolina Panthers, improving to 3-2 as they head to London this week for the Oct. 13 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Williams threw for 304 yards — including 200 in the first half — on 20-for-29 passing.

After their slow start together was a storyline all week leading up to the game, Williams and wide receiver DJ Moore connected for first-half touchdown passes of 34 and 30 yards. Moore, playing against the team that traded him away in the 2023 offseason, had five catches for 105 yards.

Running back D’Andre Swift had 73 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and Roschon Johnson scored two rushing touchdowns.

The Bears defense totaled three takeaways. Jaquan Brisker forced a fumble that Gervon Dexter recovered in the first half. Kevin Byard intercepted Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton’s deep shot intended for Jonathan Mingo early in the third quarter. And Tremaine Edmunds forced a fumble that nickel Kyler Gordon recovered in the fourth.

Dalton, making his third start in place of benched starter Bryce Young, completed 18-of-28 passes for 136 yards in the game before the Panthers gave Young time late in the fourth quarter. The Panthers entered the game with multiple key players out with injury and lost four starters during the game.

The Bears followed Byard’s pick with Cairo Santos’ 33-yard field goal. They had second-and-goal at the 1-yard line, but a clipping penalty on Doug Kramer negated a Williams touchdown run. Williams threw two incompletions, and the Bears settled for the field goal.

They capitalized on Gordon’s fumble recovery when Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. They failed on a two-point conversion attempt to take a 36-10 lead. A fight broke out after the touchdown, and Bears guard Matt Pryor and Panthers cornerback Jayce Horn were disqualified.

The Panthers’ only points in the second and third quarters came on Eddy Pineiro’s 27-yard field goal.

Bears left guard Teven Jenkins suffered an ankle injury late in the first half and didn’t return. The Bears had Bill Murray replace him rather than bringing in Nate Davis. But Davis replaced Pryor upon the ejection.

Here’s how the game unfolded:

Halftime: Bears lead Panthers 27-7

The Caleb Williams-DJ Moore connection arrived for the Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Williams hit Moore for touchdown passes of 34 and 30 yards in the first half, and the Bears used a balanced offensive attack to take a convincing 27-7 halftime lead against the Panthers.

Williams completed 11-of-15 passes for 200 yards and the two touchdowns. Running back D’Andre Swift added 15 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown, and Roschon Johnson also scored a touchdown in the half.

Meanwhile, the Panthers offense netted 139 yards — including 64 net passing yards — and had one turnover.

The Panthers scored first when Chuba Hubbard broke free for a 38-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. One player earlier, the Panthers kept the drive alive with Diontae Johnson’s 4-yard gain on fourth-and-1.

But on the next drive, Williams tied it by hitting Moore with the 34-yard scoring strike, the longest touchdown pass of his career, with 5:44 to play in the first quarter. Williams and Moore had connected for their first touchdown in Week 4, a 9-yarder.

Swift gained 22 yards on four carries on the drive.

The Bears marched 80 yards on their next drive, which was capped by Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown run. Williams threw a 23-yard pass to Moore to get the drive moving. Williams also scrambled for 6 and 5 yards for first downs, and Swift broke off an 18-yard run on the drive.

On their fourth drive, the Bears went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Panthers 39-yard line, but the Panthers stopped Johnson for no gain.

The Bears defense got the ball back two plays later. Safety Jaquan Brisker knocked the ball loose from Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble, and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter recovered it, giving the Bears the ball at the Panthers 44-yard line.

The Bears capitalized. Swift took a short Williams pass 42 yards to the 2, and two plays later, he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run for a 21-7 lead.

The Bears scored their last touchdown of the half with 30 seconds to play. Williams found Cole Kmet for a 25-yard pass and two plays later sent a dart toward Moore, who made a beautiful falling catch. Cairo Santos’ extra-point attempt was no good.

Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt in the final seconds of the half.

Inactives: Teven Jenkins, DeAndre Carter are active

Bears left guard Teven Jenkins and wide receiver DeAndre Carter are active Sunday against the Panthers at Soldier Field.

Jenkins and Carter were listed as questionable Friday as they recovered from ribs injuries.

The Bears previously declared out defensive tackle Zacch Pickens and cornerback Terell Smith.

Also inactive are wide receiver/running back Velus Jones Jr., defensive end Dominique Robinson and fullback Khari Blasingame.

The Panthers previously declared out linebacker Shaq Thompson, who was put on injured reserve, linebacker Josey Jewell and center Andrew Raym.

Panthers safety Russ Yeast, running back Mike Boone, guard Jarrett Kingston and defensive end Jayden Peevy are inactive.

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