Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers: Complete Week 5 Preview for Carolina
Week 5 has been eventful as game day approaches.
The Carolina Panthers (2-2) will host the Chicago Bears (2-2) on Sunday. After suffering two consecutive beatdowns, the Panthers will look to rebound and pick up win number three. There are still concerns about the Panthers as the week comes to an end.
Some of those concerns involve the health of key players. Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams left last week's game with an ankle injury and did not return. That left Darrin Reaves and Tauren Poole to pick up the slack in the running game, but both proved to be non-factors. Other issues have been related to the performance of certain units on the team, with the offensive line proving to be a huge liability and the defense not playing up to par.
This game could go either way, but Carolina has struggled a lot offensively the past two weeks. Making matters worse has been the inept play of the defense which has been lit up the Panthers' two losses. It's too early to panic, but if the Panthers' performance during those setbacks were an indicator of things to come, the team is in trouble the rest of the way.
Chicago will not be an easy team to beat as it has had the Panthers' number as of late. In fact, the Bears own the all-time series, 5-3, and have not lost to Carolina since 2008. However, each game played between the two teams has been relatively close, but the Panthers will need to resolve their deficiencies if they plan on winning this week.
With the second quarter of the season starting, Carolina cannot afford another loss.
Carolina Panthers Week 4 Recap
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This game was built up as the one where Steve Smith would exact his revenge on his former team.
He did that and more. When the dust settled, the former Carolina wide receiver had seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. His performance helped his new team, the Baltimore Ravens, cruise to a huge 38-10 victory and prompted a call for changes within the Carolina secondary.
Smith would not stop there as he blasted his former team, notably Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman, about his release during the offseason and painted an uglier picture about his departure from Carolina. Of course, this slide is about the game recap and not the aftermath.
The running game lost DeAngelo Williams after he hurt his ankle picking up a first down. Once he left, the Carolina rushing attack was weakened, which put pressure on the passing game. Quarterback Cam Newton did all he could behind a vulnerable offensive line and while his production wasn't eye-popping, he did everything possible to move the offense. It didn't help that he was limited by a rib injury and his still ongoing recovery from offseason ankle surgery.
With the game against Baltimore out of reach, Newton was pulled for the second time in as many weeks for Derek Anderson, who was solid during his lone series and even gave his team an opportunity to score in the final seconds.
After another unimpressive showing, it's obvious Carolina has a lot to do if it is to be a contender in 2014.
News and Notes
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After losing his starting job last year, cornerback Josh Norman will be called upon to replace Melvin White at cornerback. The Panthers have seen their secondary get picked apart this season, especially the last two weeks. Ron Rivera liked what he saw from Norman against the Ravens and that played a role in the corner getting returning to the starting defense. If he is able to step up, the Carolina defense may have an edge in shutting down the Chicago passing game.
The decimated Carolina backfield has forced the front office to sign a player to fill the much-needed void. Chris Ogbonnaya was signed earlier this week, and the Panthers cut Tauren Poole to make room for the former Cleveland Browns back. Ogbonnaya has played in 46 games in his career with 660 rushing yards under his belt. There is a chance he could play this week against Chicago, which would be great for a Carolina team trying to get its running game going. He may not be a long-term solution, but he does address a pressing need for the Panthers at this time.
This week was suppose to see the Carolina defense get a bit of a boost with the return of defensive end Frank Alexander. Instead, he will be suspended for the next 10 games because he violated the league's substance abuse policy for a second time. Details are not available at this time, and it could be reasoned the Panthers may cut ties with Alexander after the season is done. The defense could have used him in Carolina's two recent losses, but instead they will have to continue to make do with the current set up.
It may take awhile for the Carolina backfield to return to full strength, but in the meantime, Jonathan Stewart returned this week in limited action. After leaving Week 3's game early, Stewart missed the matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Whether or not he plays Week 5, it's reassuring to know he was in pads and participating in practice with his team.
After four games, Kelvin Benjamin has caught 21 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns. His receiving yard total is tops among rookies and he is second among them in receptions. His efforts paid off being named offensive rookie of the month for September. Benjamin took a humble approach to the honor, saying, "It’s good, but that’s not really my goal. My main focus is helping the team any possible way I can. I've got to keep working. There are a lot of things I've got to work on. I haven't even scratched the surface of my game yet."
It seems as though Carolina hit a home run with its first pick of the 2014 draft.
Injury Report
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| Player/Position | Injury | Game Status |
| Richie Brockel, TE/FB | Ankle | N/A |
| Colin Cole, DT | NFI | N/A |
| Thomas Davis, OLB | Hip | N/A |
| Ed Dickson, TE | Hip | N/A |
| Dwan Edwards | NFI | N/A |
| Charles Johnson, DE | Hip | N/A |
| Jonathan Stewart, RB | Knee | N/A |
| Melvin White, CB | Thigh | N/A |
| Fozzy Whittaker | Thigh | N/A |
| DeAngelo Williams | Ankle | N/A |
Source: Panthers.com
Thomas Davis was the only one to be a full participant in Wednesday's practice. Both Jonathan Stewart and Melvin White practiced, but were limited. Everyone else on the injury report sat out Wednesday.
Three names to keep an eye on are Charles Johnson, Dwan Edwards and Colin Cole.
Carolina cannot afford to lose anyone on the defensive line. All three men bring a veteran presence to the unit and with the issues the defensive front seven has been having as of late, the personnel on defense remaining healthy will be critical if Carolina is to turn around its performance on that side of the ball. The reasons for Edwards and Cole missing practice haven't been given, and it's not clear what their status is for Sunday.
Thursday's practice was similar to that of Wednesday, except for Edwards full participation in practice, and Fozzy Whittaker was in pads during limited action. Knowing that Whittaker is taking reps again is reassuring because the running back unit could use all the help it can get.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Antoine Cason and Josh Norman vs. Alshon Jeffrey and Martellus Bennett
The duo of Jeffrey and Bennett has combined for 49 receptions, 557 yards and five touchdowns. With cornerback Josh Norman getting his first start since 2012, the wide receiver tandem could prove to be a handful.
Chicago is a better passing team this year than a running team, but considering the problems the Carolina defense has experienced in stopping opposing offenses, the Bears could put together an effective and balanced attack. Norman and Cason will need to keep these receivers in front of them and not get burned deep. Additionally, there is another receiver named Brandon Marshall who could be just as dangerous.
Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen vs. Chicago Secondary
Both Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen lead the Panthers in receiving. After one month of play, the offense owes its ability to score to both of these men, who have accounted for five touchdowns through the air. Despite the running game not being up to par, Benjamin and Olsen have been the difference in an otherwise lethargic offense.
Continuing to do the things that have helped give their team points will be essential against a Bears defense that is allowing 250.3 yards per game. If Carolina can generate several trips to the red zone, these two will be the primary targets.
Carolina Front Seven vs. Matt Forte
Taking into account the inability of the Carolina defense to stop the ground game of opposing teams, this matchup could be about the front seven taking on Chicago's running backs.
However, Matt Forte is one of the better backs in the league and anyone with fantasy football team and Forte on the roster has to be salivating at this week's game. The Panthers are near the bottom of the league in stopping the run, giving up an average of 140.8 yards per game. That number is a bit inflated because of the huge games Pittsburgh and Baltimore running backs had the past two weeks. Carolina's defensive line and linebackers will need to find a way to shut down the Bears running game, to plug the gaps and get more tackles in the backfield.
Forte could be the difference-maker in this game and if he is on, it will put the defense in a dire position.
Carolina's X-Factor of the Week: Cam Newton
He may not be 100 percent and he may be hurting, but Cam Newton needs to have the coaching staff allow him to play his style of football. Playing from the pocket and using his arm to make plays, Newton has made some smart decisions. He hasn't thrown an interception and has completed 63.8 percent of his passes.
However, an unreliable offensive line has allowed nine sacks of the quarterback in three games. Maybe if Newton were allowed the freedom to improvise, he wouldn't take as much punishment. There is still the issue of his ankle and ribs to take into account. Both could be limiting him and causing him to be cautious while on the field. He's not doing bad at there, but his current style isn't exactly working for the Panthers.
If Carolina is to have a chance of winning this week, Super Cam has to return.
Prediction
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Until the defense can return to form and the offense resolves its problems along the line and at running back, it's difficult to favor the Carolina Panthers in this one. The past couple of weeks have been disastrous and the Chicago Bears are not a pushover team. Playing at home will be good for Carolina, but an all-around improvement needs to be made if this team is to be taken seriously for the remainder of the season.
The Panthers still have a share of first place in the NFC South, and despite giving up 75 points over the last two games, they have allowed the fewest points within their division. With the upcoming schedule becoming more difficult, this has to be a statement game for Carolina.
Cam Newton needs to play his style of football, but the recovery process regarding his ankle and his rib injury could really slow him down when it comes to picking up yards on the ground. If his line can provide decent protection, he may have to rely only on his passing skills to get the job done. The Bears are not exactly the best at defending the pass, and with two big targets in Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen to throw to, Newton could have a big day.
The running game could enjoy moderate success, but the Carolina aerial attack will have to carry the offense. Once again, the line will have to do its part to aid in that part of the game plan. The Panthers defense will still give up three touchdowns, but unlike the last two games, this one will be close when the final whistle blows.
Prediction
Chicago 24, Carolina 21
All team and player news and stats were provided via Panthers.com, NFL.com, ESPN.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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