The Carolina Panthers were very, very clear: They are not going to do that again.
“That” was going to Chicago on Nov. 20 to play the Bears, not having enough respect for them and then losing their compass completely. The Bears won 13-3, Carolina’s lowest output in 46 games, while mauling their quarterback and holding their backs to 47 rushing yards.
“You know what I learned from that experience?” defensive tackle Brentson Buckner said. “If you’re going to go hunt for Bear, you better bring a big gun. We went up there to go Bear hunting with a switch. That didn’t work out so good.”
So what lies ahead next Sunday when the Bears come off a bye week and play the visiting Panthers?
1 Jake Delhomme vs. the Bears’ pass rush
Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera began the Carolina game by blitzing repeatedly. At halftime he turned the game over to the defensive line. The front four sacked Delhomme eight times, and six of those came in the blitz-light second half. If the Bears’ pass rush is clicking, it can deflate Delhomme’s confidence.
2 Rex Grossman vs. the Carolina defense
Grossman has never faced Carolina. But the Panthers don’t know Grossman or how he works. In nine games against quarterbacks with three or fewer years’ experience, the Panthers have won seven times, recording 27 sacks and 19 interceptions. Still, Grossman will challenge the defense. That’s just how he thinks.
3 Fred Miller vs. Julius Peppers
Peppers is a Pro Bowl starter at defensive end. He had 101 1/42 sacks this season, the third time in his four seasons he has had double-digit sacks. But in the November game, Peppers had zero sacks against Miller, who has faced Peppers twice, once as a Bear, once as a Tennessee Titan.
4 Steve Smith vs. Muhsin Muhammad
The Panthers’ Smith, who tied for the NFL lead with 103 catches and led with 1,563 yards, beat the Bears for 14 catches and 169 yards. But he didn’t score. Muhammad caught six passes for 49 yards and one touchdown against his former team.
5 Lovie Smith vs. John Fox
Smith is the NFL coach of the year. George Halas won
the award in ’63, Mike Ditka in ’85. Smith has turned the Bears around in two years; Ditka needed three. Fox took a team that was 1-15 the year before he arrived to within four points of a Super Bowl victory in his second season.
