Carolina Panthers vs Chicago Bears Preview
The Carolina Panthers come into week 5 of the regular season looking to heal. With Richie Brockel now hurt, the Panthers will not have any of their fullback options to go with their limited halfback slate. DeAngelo Williams is out and Jonathan Stewart is doubtful, which is my way of thinking that he won’t go either. Where is the Panthers’ run game going to come from, because that is crucial to the Panthers team formula. Even Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers does better when Eddie Lacy is productive.
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I bring up Rodgers because one of the Panthers’ options is to let Cam try to step back and gun them to victory. Spread three wide or more and just look for yardage. The problem is that this plays into the hands of the Chicago Bears. They would much rather rely on Jared Allen as pass rusher or star rookie Kyle Fuller in coverage than on run defense.
Date: October 5
Time: 1:00 PM
TV: FOX (Panthers 2-0 on Fox, 0-2 off of it)
Venue: Bank of America Stadium
Sep 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) and head coach Marc Trestman speak during the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Opponent: Chicago Bears (2-2)
The Bears and Panthers had something of a mini-rivalry in the mid 2000s when both were playoff contending teams. Those were the days of Lovie Smith and John Fox, and both of those men are employed elsewhere in the NFL right now. Both Bears and Panthers are 2-2, playing divisions that have not sorted out a top to bottom hierarchy.
These days the Bears are led by Coach Mark Trestman, whose reputation has been made on offense and is supposed to be something of a quarterback whisperer. Trestman was brought in right before the Lovie-era defense aged out, and so probably believed he would only have to get the defense oiled to keep it going. That really has not been the case, and so the Bears have flipped their identity into a powerhouse offense with an okay defense.
On offense is the former Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler, now clearly the best quarterback from the 2005 draft. Cutler is best known for his arm and trying to make things happen. In Bears’ defeats, he has 4 INTs. In Bears victories, none.
He has some big targets to throw as well. There is Brandon Marshall out wide, and on the other side is Alshon Jeffrey. Both are large dependable targets. Martellus Bennett is capable at tight end. Matt Forte is one of the better two-way backs in the league. The pieces are all there, but the Bears’ line has been suspect. This is what the Panthers will have to attack. Charles Johnson is probable, but the rest of line must get pressure on Cutler to prevent a shootout.
Sep 7, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Jared Allen (69) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
On defense, the Bears have similar issues. The pass defense has players at both corners and both defensive end positions. Rodgers, behind an improving Green Bay offensive line, still managed to burn the Bears for 302 yards and four touchdowns. So it can be done, but I prefer a more balanced attack. Lacy still got 17 carries against the Bears.
The one place the Panthers will not replicate the Packers’ success is at receiver. Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson have speed in spades. The Bears could not track both of them. There is no speed option across from Kelvin Benjamin.
So we turn once again to our battered and bruised quarterback, our unsteady offensive line, and our weakened defense and ask for the best. This game with the Bears has so many different possible outcomes, but winning and coming out healthy has to be number 1.
Prediction:
17. 87. Final. 21. 57
I think the externals are all going against the Panthers this week. If they do beat the Bears, it will be because something unexpected happened. Something like Darrin Reaves running for 100 yards or Cam Newton being fully healthy. Or Cutler will throw a couple our way. I just don’t see it though.
ONJ Season Prediction Record: 17-4