Panthers Top Bears, Improve to 2-0

The Carolina Panthers edged the Chicago Bears 20-17 at Bank of America Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Despite their victory, the Panthers had a dysmal first half. 

Carolina went 3-and-out on their first possession.  On the tail end of the possession, when Panthers punter Jason Baker attempted to punt, Bears linebacker Darrell McClover blocked it. 

McClover deflected the ball high into the air.  Chicago wide receiver Brandon Lloyd snatched it out the air and returned it nine yards for a touchdown. 

The play was made possible in the first place because Panthers fullback Nick Goings didn't make an effort to block McClover, who was his assignment.

The Panthers offense couldn't move the ball in the first two frames.

Carolina earned two first downs in the first half. 

The dynamic rushing attack was held in check, only gaining 32 yards on 12 carries (2.67 YPC).

Quarterback Jake Delhomme went four-of-nine for 24 yards and no touchdowns.

In addition, the constant pressure that the Bears applied to the Panthers blockers played a large part in causing nine penalties amassing 50 yards.

Several of these untimely penalties negated momentous plays by the Panthers, preventing them from getting anything going offensively.

Carolina's only first half points came on a John Kasay field goal from 37 yards out with 14 seconds left in the second quarter. 

Bottom line: The Bears defense was going full-force in the first half.

Not only was the Bears defense clicking in the first 30 minutes, the offense was in sync, too.  Rather, running back Matt Forte was on and quarterback Kyle Orton provided a great balance when necessary.

Forte consistently churned out quality carries as he ran for 53 yards on 14 carries (out of 23 attempts for 92 yards) in the first half.  The rookie running back also received for 21 yards on three catches.

Field general Kyle Orton did his job—maintaining the passing game enough to keep Carolina honest—completing 9-of-13 first half passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

All in all Chicago's only offensive points came on placekicker Robbie Gould's 26-yard field goal in the second quarter.  But they also scored that early special teams touchdown on the blocked punt. 

At the start of the second half, the Panthers allowed one first down and then forced a 3-and-out on the Bears' first drive.  But then disaster struck.

On a 1st-and-10 from the Panthers' 45, Delhomme rifled a pass to tight end Jeff King, who had only just established possession of the ball when Bears cornerback Charles Tillman knocked the ball out of King's hands and won the battle for it. 

Tillman returned the ball 26 yards to the Carolina 23, setting the Bears up for a drive that culminated in a Jason McKie one-yard touchdown run.  This score put the Bears up 17-3 with 9:25 left in the third quarter.

With this score, it looked as though the Bears had just thrust an early dagger into Carolina's heart.

But after the McKie score the momentum swung heavily in the Panthers' favor in a hurry.

First the Panthers drove 52 yards and settled for a field goal.  Just the fact that the Panthers gained more than 10 yards on one drive was progress.  52 yards was a breakthrough. 

On the second play of the proceeding defensive series Panthers strong safety Chris Harris forced his second fumble of the season on Bears tight end Greg Olson. 

Just like in Carolina's Week 1 game against the Chargers, cornerback Chris Gamble scooped up the loose ball and returned it, this time only for 10 yards to the Chicago 26 instead of a touchdown.  

This turnover set the stage for a 26-yard drive that resulted in a four-yard rushing touchdown for rookie Jonathan Stewart, his first career touchdown.  Stewart's score upped the tally to 17-13, Bears.

The Panthers D forced a Bears three-and-out on the next drive.

Chicago's next two offensive possessions netted them one first down combined before the Panthers forced a punt both times.

The Panthers drive that began after these defensive stands is the one that really changed the game and gave them the momentum. 

The Bears punted 40 yards to the Carolina 47, where the Panthers took over.  Delhomme completed three-of-four passes on this possession for 43 yards, and Stewart rushed for 12 yards—including a one-yard touchdown run.

Delhomme finished with 12-of-21 completions for 128 yards and an interception (which really looked more like a fumble).

Stewart's overall performance included 14 carries for 77 yards and two touchdowns. 

At the 3:56 mark in the third quarter, the Panthers took a 20-17 lead, which turned out to be the final result of the game.

The Panthers sealed the game when they stopped fullback McKie from converting a 4th-and-1 with two minutes left in the game.

The fact that Carolina was only penalized (a 15-yard unnecessary roughness special teams penalty on defensive end Charles Johnson) was the key offensive difference from the first half to the second.

Game Balls:

Panthers—Quarterback Jake Delhomme.  Delhomme guided his team like a true leader should, turning frustration over multiple questionable calls and a controversial late hit by Bears linebacker Lance Briggs into motivation for the team to step up.  He kept fighting and trying to light a fire under his teammates when they needed it most.

Bears—The entire defense.  Yes, Matt Forte was important.  But he didn't even rush for 100 yards or a touchdown.  The defense was what kept the Bears from getting blown out after their offense stalled badly in the second half.