Joe's 2011 Gameday Preview: Panthers at Bears

This week Chicago welcomes in former player and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, who now coaches for the Carolina Panthers. Rivera brings with him number one overall pick Cam Newton, who has taken the league by storm. (Sorta.) Let’s see if the Bears have what it takes to put the Panthers down.

(1-2) Carolina Panthers at
(1-2) Chicago Bears

So any football fan has heard of Cam Newton for one reason or another. The reason you’re hearing about him now? His two 400 yard performances (in losing efforts) to begin the year followed by his first win as a starting QB. With a bit more film out there for teams to scout, Newton will start to see defenses wise up to his tendencies, even if they can’t plan to combat his immense abilities. Also, the dude’s pretty big. He’s essentially a quarterback in a defensive end’s body. Chicago will rely heavily on its cover-two scheme, expecting Newton to make a mistake or two along the way that will lead to turnovers.

Despite Newton’s talent, his receiving corps pretty much starts and ends with the ever-douchey Steve Smith. Smith is rejuvenated this season because he actually has a QB that can get him the ball. Chicago’s secondary needs to keep Smith covered up top with a safety and underneath the entire game just to make sure he doesn’t get any good looks. He’s a bit fast for Tillman to be on him all day, so you’ll probably see some of Tim Jennings on him too. Where Newton will probably have success is in tossing it to his tight ends. Jeremy Shockey and familiar face Greg Olsen have been making life much easier on the rookie. As we all know, Olsen is a redzone threat. While I’m SURE today has no significant meaning to him (not that the Bears traded him, thinking he was useless to them), Olsen warrants watching.

Against the run, the Bears have been fairly stout thus far. Carolina may not try to get Jonathan Stewart or DeAngelo Williams going for too long, especially if they’re having success with the pass. The Panther offensive line is large and maul-y, but Chicago should be able to get meaningful quarterback hurries to disrupt Newton’s timing. It’s just that Peppers, Melton and Idonije have to put Newton down when they finally grab him.

Carolina’s defense is already marred with injuries, especially in the linebacking unit. With Jon Beason out for the season, the Panthers are ripe for the picking up the middle with Matt Forte. Everyone that has been calling for the ground game to get going should have plenty to be happy about today. If they can’t run on the Panthers, they can’t run on anybody. Their secondary isn’t anything to write home about either, giving up about 240 yards through the air. They have eight sacks on the season, so that number will probably get to double-digits today. If Jay Cutler can find the open receiver without overthrowing, the Bears shouldn’t have any trouble getting to the 21-24 points necessary to seal up the win. (Unless they let Newton get going… that’d be a bad idea.)

Chicago is a seven point home favorite.

Carolina should keep it closer than that. Maybe a 23-17 finish?

One. Any more than that and I’ll be appalled.

See above. Beat this team and get back to .500.

Enjoy the game!