The Bears and Panthers both entered Week 5 at 2-2 and in need of a win to start the second quarter of the season. For the Panthers, the situation was particularly dire after two straight blowout losses. They were fresh off an ugly home loss to the Steelers and that embarrassing domination by Steve Smith in Baltimore. Carolina was picked as a possible regression team, and Sunday's Week 5 matchup seemed like a crossroads for the season. The Panthers trailed for most of the second half, but took advantage of a late Chicago turnover to pull out a 31-24 win.
1. Cam Newton works with little, pulls off a win
Newton's offensive line is shaky, to say the least. While Jay Cutler usually had ample time to sit in the pocket and throw behind his offensive line, Newton had no such luxury. The offensive line is a known issue for the Panthers, though having a rushing and scrambling talent like Newton can cover up some of that weakness. He's also working with a relatively unknown and untested receiving corps. Kelvin Benjamin is a stud but he had probably the worst game of his short rookie career, dropping a few balls and struggling against fellow rookie talent Kyle Fuller.
Even though it wasn't a great game for Newton, he still made it work behind the line and a receiving group that failed to find space. The Panthers were chasing the Bears from the middle of the first quarter on but pulled even with under five minutes to play. On the ensuing possession, Chicago coughed up a critical fumble and Newton wasted no time taking advantage. While Benjamin and the receivers may have struggled on the outside, Newton still hit his most reliable threat, Greg Olsen, in the middle of the field. It was Olsen that Newton hit for the game-winner after the Chicago turnover.
Cam Newton to Greg Olsen Go-Ahead TD https://t.co/0w3XEnbDAC
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) October 5, 2014
In the end, Carolina's most valuable player did enough to stop a losing skid and get a crucial home win. It's just the first week of October, but against what is expected to be one of the NFC's best, this was an enormous fourth-quarter comeback led by Newton. Benjamin will get better, and the line may improve, but Newton has to be the one to do it going forward.
2. Feeding Matt Forte
After an underwhelming start to the season with limited opportunities, the Bears running back found room against the Green Bay and Carolina defenses the last two weeks. It's no secret that Forte is one of the best dual rushing/receiving running backs in the league, and he's shown it the last two games. He busted out for 122 yards on the ground against the Packers, and then became Jay Cutler's primary target in Carolina. Forte finished with 12 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, but also put it on the ground at the worst possible time for the Bears.
Chicago's Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall receiving duo get all the hype, but Forte should be just as involved, if not more, in the offense. If that means feeding him through the passing game, then so be it. Led by Luke Kuechly, the Panthers seemed to key on the run so Forte made an impact in another way. He's as crucial as anyone to Chicago's offense, and despite the late fumble, the increased use should persist.
3. The Bears' special teams are a problem
If Chicago wants to contend in the NFC North, it must eliminate the special teams gaffes. It's never good when the fan base knows the special teams coach's name and quickly references it every time something goes wrong. Calling special teams coach Joe DeCamillis "embattled" in Chicago wouldn't be inaccurate.
The most notable blunder came early on Sunday, when Bears gunner Teddy Williams was flagged for barreling into Panthers punt returner Philly Brown. Williams arrived, oh, two seconds early and crushed Brown well before the ball landed. Flags were thrown, and the ball settled unclaimed on the Carolina turf. Brown got up, scooped the ball and took off down the sideline untouched.
And thanks to the special teams, Chicago was promptly in a 7-0 hole.
Robbie Gould, the typically reliable mainstay on special teams, also whiffed on a 35-yard field goal. The punt return and missed field goal were a pretty significant 10 points for the Bears.