Joe's 2011 Gameday Recap: Bears 34, Panthers 29

Well it was way too close for comfort, but I’ll take it. The Chicago Bears got help in the form of Devin Hester and D.J. Moore touchdowns to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-29 Sunday afternoon.

The first series of the game was indicative of Mike Martz’s overall gameplan, running it eight straight times down to the Panther 1-yard line, where they were forced to settle for a field goal to tie the game. Despite the shortcoming, Martz had established and found success in the running game, which they carried throughout the day and racked up 224 yards as a team. Matt Forte tore up the sod on his way to 205 yards rushing on 25 carries, including a 46 yard run to set up the Bears’ first field goal as well as 17-yard score in the second quarter. Marion Barber even got in on the fun in limited action, getting four carries, the last of which was the game-sealing touchdown with under two minutes left in the contest.

In addition to the ground game, Devin Hester sparked the Bears with two dynamic returns, the first of which went for 73 yards all the way back to the Carolina 36 yard line, leading to Forte’s first score. After forcing a three and out on the Panthers’ next drive, Hester got another chance on a punt return and made the most of it, taking it back 69 yards for an NFL record 11^th punt return touchdown. Not to be overshadowed, the Bears field goal unit came up huge with a block that kept the Bears ahead. Of course, Charles Tillman got a hand on the kick and then Julius Peppers finished it off with his giant paw.

Thanks to the rushing attack, defense and special teams, Jay Cutler barely had to throw the ball, chucking it four times in the first half. He ended up with 17 attempts for 102 yards with one interception on an overthrown ball when the score was at 24-23. Cutler clearly felt some pressure when it wasn’t there at times today, necessitating the need for a ground game. To their credit, the offensive line showed up and made holes for Forte despite some more rotation. At one point Lance Louis, Chris Spencer and Frank Omiyale were rotating between right guard and right tackle for various reason. The continuity on the right side of the line is suffering.

Chicago’s defensive line found occasional pressure against Cam Newton, but they never brought him down for a sack. Newton was too strong, mobile and elusive to be tackled in the pocket, always escaping to toss it away or scramble for a few yards.  A tipped ball on Carolina’s second drive of the game found its way into D.J. Moore’s hands, who returned it 20 yards for a score to put Chicago up 10-3. Aside from Moore’s turnover, the Bears struggled to contain Cam Newton as well as Steve Smith, who torched Chicago (yet again) for 181 yards on eight catches including a 53-yard bomb on blown coverage to set-up the Panthers’ first touchdown, of which there were too many. Cam Newton made the Bears look sloppy in the secondary, but just as aggravating was Chicago’s lack of discipline on run defense. Giving up 169 yards on the ground isn’t going to cut it against better teams.

-Brandon Meriweather and Steve Smith were jawing ALL DAY. I really wanted to live vicariously through Meriweather, so he could slap Smith around.

-What the hell is it with Steve Smith and absolutely torching the Bear defense? WHY YOU NO LEARN LOVIE???

-Pay Matt Forte. Jerry Angelo, just get this done. You know he’s just getting MORE expensive as the season goes on, right?

-I was pretty surprised the Panthers didn’t try to get Greg Olsen more involved. Aside from a few garbage time catches and a score, he didn’t make much of an impact. Shoddy game-planning on their part.

There were plenty of negatives to be found on the day, but the Bears took an ugly game and came out of it with a win, which is the only point of playing. At 2-2, they’re at least not falling further behind Green Bay or Detroit in the division standings. Enjoy the win Bear fans, but remember that it was only the Panthers.

Bear Down and Happy Jay Cutler Day!