Chicago Bears Beat Carolina: How They Continue To Win Ugly

The Bears improved to 4-1 on the season as they topped the Carolina Panthers 23-6 on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Bears continue to win ugly, but as they say, a win is a win in the NFL, right? I mean, sure, they don't have a true NFL-ready QB behind Jay Cutler, and the pass blocking is still terrible, but at least they got the running game going.

But the team is in the midst of a favorable schedule. In order to compete against the better teams in the NFL, they will certainly need a better performance from the QB position than they received in the last two games against the Giants and Panthers.

But let's look at how the Bears won as they head into a matchup against the Seahawks.

Bears Finally Get The Running Game Going

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Running back Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball as defensive end Charles Johnson #95 of the Carolina Panthers defends at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Ge

It took five games and an opponent who has been poor against the run this year, but the Bears finally got their running game untracked.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who historically does not favor the running game, perhaps influenced by head coach Lovie Smith, looked at the situation without Jay Cutler and decided that this would be a good time to break out the running game.

Good thing, too, since backup QB Todd Collins stinks.

Matt Forte carried the ball 22 times for 166 yards and two touchdowns. Take away his 68-yard run and his rushing average drops from 7.5 yards per carry to 4.4 but that is still a huge improvement for the Bears.

It was also nice to see Chester Taylor get more involved in the offense, contributing 43 rushing yards, though his average was only 2.4.

While it was somewhat predictable for a Bears team without their starting QB to run the ball, apparently the news hadn't gotten to Carolina.

This Panthers Offense Is Just Horrible

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Matt Moore #3 of the Carolina Panthers throws the ball as safety Chris Harris #46 of the Chicago Bears defends at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Gett

You think the Bears offense has struggled this season? You ain't seen nothing until you've watched the Carolina Panthers.

Behind incompetent QB Jimmy Clausen, they managed just 147 yards of offense.

Look, this is a team with two solid runners in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, but the Bears knew they would try to run the ball down the Bears' throats, and the defense was pretty much up to the task.

While their big two combined for 81 yards on 20 carries for a four-yard average, their team averaged only 3.4 yards per carry on the ground. And with a QB like Clausen, that spells doom.

Coaching: Why Didn't John Fox Remove Clausen Earlier?

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers signals against the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Another area where head scratching was in abundance on Sunday was why the heck Fox didn't pull the ineffective Clausen for Matt Moore a lot sooner than he did?

After all, Clausen was terrible and Moore was the guy they leaned on at the end of last season.

Sure, one can ask the same question of Bears coach Lovie Smith as to why he didn't go to Caleb Hanie sooner, but they won the game, so this question is more apt.

Clausen was 9/22 for just 61 yards and one interception for a QB rating of an abysmal 29.7.

Now, Moore wasn't any better but still, you have to try and spark the team somehow, don't you? Moore was 5/10 but was picked off twice.

Ouch, babe.

Todd Collins Sucks As a Backup QB

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Todd Collins #10 of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to the Bears game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Another thing we learned from this game is that Todd Collins is not the answer. While any QB other than Cutler is a downgrade, you hope your backup QB can at least play competently for one or two games.

Hell, the 1985 Super Bowl Bears were 4-1 in games that Steve Fuller started and he had one TD against five interceptions.

But Collins sucked against the Panthers big time. He was 6/16 for 32 yards and four interceptions.

His QB rating was...are you ready for this? 6.2.

Against a team with even a decent NFL offense, the Bears would have lost on Sunday. Fortunately for the Bears, timing is everything, and they picked the best possible time to throw Collins out there.

Caleb Hanie sucks too, but he sucks less than Collins.

Julius Peppers Is a Beast

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers throws the ball over defensive end Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke

We know that former Carolina DE Julius Peppers is great and was likely to have a big day against his former team.

But what many Bears fans didn't realize is that even though he hasn't piled up the sacks, he has been a good player so far for the the Bears.

Israel Idonije had a strong game, with seven tackles and three sacks.

And Brian Urlacher had an interception. But it was Peppers who starred for the Bears.

According to ESPN, "I think it speaks for itself," Peppers said of his acrobatic first-quarter interception that set up a field goal for a 17-3 lead. "I was able to get a hand on the ball and slapped it into the air and I came down with it. The celebration was self-explanatory."

The only downer of the day on defense was the loss of Lance Briggs to a twisted ankle.

Meanwhile, the Carolina coach had a warning for future Bears opponents.

"Quick screens to his side are not recommended," Fox said.

Robbie "Good As" Gould Is On His Game

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CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 27: Robbie Gould #9 of the Chicago Bears kicks a successful 25-yard field goal to tie the game 17-17 in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on September 27, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan

Bears kicker Robbie Gould is a difference maker. Gould matched Carolina's John Kasay with a 53-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, and he finished three-for-three on the day.

Special Teams: Devin Hester & Danieal Manning Doing Their Thing

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Wide receiver Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball as linebacker Dan Connor #55 of the Carolina Panthers, linebacker Nic Harris #59 of the Carolina Panthers, and cornerback Robert McClain #36 of the Carolina

Hester continues to tease with his performance as he returned a punt 50 yards.

Meanwhile, Danieal Manning returned a low kickoff 62 yards. Four plays later, Forte took a pitch 18 yards to the end zone.