Chicago Bears: 5 Keys to a Bears' Week 4 Victory over the Carolina Panthers

As week 4 approaches, the Bears find themselves in a must-win situation. The defending NFC North champions are already two games behind Green Bay and Detroit, after a pair of losses to the last two Super Bowl champions.

At this point, a Bears fan might feel a sense of longing for the days of "Rex is our quarterback," Lovie Smith's mantra during the Bears' Super Bowl run of 2006. Week 2's national embarrassment to New Orleans signaled the return of the tackling dummy offensive line that the Bears perfected in the first half of 2010. The Saints blitzed constantly in the game, sending Jay Cutler to the Superdome floor repeatedly.

Week 3 found the Bears trailing the Green Bay Packers from the outset with Cutler scrambling again despite Green Bay playing a 3-4 defense while sending few blitzes the Bears' way. With their first-round pick, right tackle Gabe Carimi out for at least a month with a dislocated knee, it appears the Bears will have to deal with a patchwork offensive line again while Jay Cutler somehow finds enough time to complete passes to wide receivers who cannot get open.

Week 4 brings the Carolina Panthers and their rookie phenom Cam Newton to Soldier Field in a game that suddenly does not look like as easy of a win as it did when the 2011 schedule was revealed. Newton has NFL fans buzzing with his back-to-back 400 passing yard performances in his first two games, and his first win at quarterback in a North Carolina downpour against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3.

Let's look at how the Bears can get back to their winning ways of 2010 against the Panthers.

Run, Forte, Run!

For NFL teams to be successful on offense, there needs to be a balanced attack. That's fundamental. If the defense thinks you're going to rush it up the middle, they'll put eight men up front. If they believe you're passing, they send out their nickel package and drop a linebacker back in coverage. A balanced team keeps the defense guessing, thereby exploiting mismatches as a result of the wrong play called on defense.

A telling sign of the Bears' lack of commitment to the run this year are Matt Forte's stat lines per quarter. Through three weeks, Forte has eight total rushing attempts in the third quarter and only three attempts in the fourth quarter. Considering Marion Barber has missed the last two weeks, and third-string running back Kahlil Bell is your other option, it's apparent Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz thinks running is so 1950.

Unfortunately, the Bears don't have the talent to succeed in a true Mike Martz offense, which relies on speed, timing and a quarterback to hold on to the ball for a couple of seconds, precious time that Jay Cutler has not had since he forced Denver's hand to trade him three seasons ago.

For the Bears to take down Carolina on Sunday, they need to get their millionaire-in-the-making, running back Matt Forte more carries and not more dump-offs made out of desperation. The Bears cannot bail on their rushing attack after a few no-gainers.

Whatever cohesion Chicago's offensive line can muster needs to be used to spring some holes for Forte. He's a talented enough back to break some long runs, and he's strong enough to wear down a defense, which he should be doing in the second half. He can't get one carry in the fourth quarter, which is what he's been averaging in 2011. The only passes Forte should be getting Sunday should be of the designed screen variety, one of which he converted for a 56-yard touchdown on opening day.

A dedication to the run should bring the Bears a victory and bring Mike Martz back into the good graces of an increasingly-impatient fan base.

Build on Special Teams Trickery from Week 3

One of the Bears' obvious strengths during the Lovie Smith era in Chicago has been their special teams play. Every year, Bears special teams coach Dave Toub gains more recognition due to his innovation and the Bears' success on special teams.

One of the few bright spots during Sunday's loss to the Packers was Devin Hester's fake fair catch on a Green Bay punt and Johnny Knox's subsequent return for a touchdown. Even that success was fleeting, as the play was called back because of a Corey Graham hold.

That punt, however, added a new wrinkle to one of the league's strongest special teams. By Hester pretending to close in on the ball, most of the Packers, Fox's camera crew and broadcaster Joe Buck did not notice the ball being caught by Knox, who then bolted down the sidelines for an apparent score. Even though the play was negated by a penalty, it may influence the Bears' field possession in weeks to come.

For a team that relies so much on field possession, the Bears are already feeling the effects of the NFL's rule change regarding kickoffs. The Bears' opponents have more touchbacks against them in 2011 than all of last year. After that punt against the Packers, teams now have to wonder which Bears' speedster is going to catch the ball, altering teams' coverage plans during kickoffs and punts.

For the Bears' struggling offense to score points, the Bears cannot start at the 20-yard line or worse every series. Chicago's special teams will be a big factor against Carolina.

Chicago's Wide Receiving Corps Needs to Step It Up

The Bears are in need of a No. 1 wide receiver. While we're at it, they could use a No. 2 and a No. 3. Jay Cutler probably wakes up in a cold sweat on Wednesdays when he realizes he forced his way out of Denver and doesn't have Denver's offensive line blocking for him, or Brandon Marshall fighting for his passes (he's since moved on to Miami).

With the reliable Earl Bennett still on the sidelines after suffering a chest injury against New Orleans in Week 2, Jay Cutler is still struggling to find his go-to-guy. Roy Williams, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and now Dane Sanzenbacher are still trying to get open as we speak against the Packers' 31st-ranked passing defense. The cavalcade of dropped passes has not helped matters either.

Sunday against Carolina, Roy Williams needs to show if he's a true No. 1 receiver as he claimed this past summer after signing with the Bears. Williams, who is listed at 6'3", plays more like he's 5'8".

The Bears also need to exploit Devin Hester and Johnny Knox's speed. Don't put them in a position where they have to fight for the ball. If the line can protect Cutler so he has a couple more seconds to throw, the Bears can enjoy some big plays against a Carolina defense that has given up five passing touchdowns and 11 plays of 20 or more yards through the first three weeks.

Pressure Rookie Cam Newton and Force Turnovers

Cam Newton has breathed new life into a sagging Carolina franchise. Over the last two seasons, it was a wonder that veteran receiving star Steve Smith caught any passes with some of the "talent" throwing to him. Newton comes into Chicago this week with confidence and numbers to back up his game.

The Bears' strength continues to be defense, albeit an aging defense. They still have one of the best pass rushers in the game creating havoc in former Carolina Panther, Julius Peppers. It's doubtful coach Ron Rivera will be conservative against his old boss, Lovie Smith, and he'll want to showcase his rising star.

If the Bears can rush Newton all day and contain his scrambles for minimal gains, Chicago should get back to .500 Sunday. Newton is still a rookie, and a rookie forced to make quick decisions undoubtedly should be good for two or three picks against the Bears.

The Bears Need to Shut Down DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart

Through Week 3, the Bears' run defense has been a cause for concern. Yielding 109 rushing yards per game so far, Chicago will be facing two of the better running backs in the conference. Fortunately, the tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart has been quiet in 2011. If they move the ball, however, and the the Bears offense continues to struggle, the Bears could lose the field possession game yet again, and the defense will wear down.

Another key to victory is to contain Carolina's two-headed monster and force Cam Newton to pass into coverage, which should lead to turnovers. If the Bears want to win like they did when George Halas roamed the sidelines, the defense needs to become the Monsters of the Midway again, which means a run-stuffing unit that swarms to the ball, forcing loss of yards and possession. Sunday has the making of  a classic Bears defensive gem with a rookie quarterback strolling into town, but the real key for the defense is stopping Carolina's run game, which includes the mobile Newton.

Bears fans who are still crying into their Old Styles and saying "no" to that last bratwurst on the grill after Sunday's calamity against the Pack, fret not. If the Bears put together a more balanced offensive attack and protect Cutler, their usually reliable defense and special teams units should help the Bears coast to victory against the improving Panthers this week.