This Sundays showdown of 1-0 teams to me is an example of a game no one should bet on. It has way too many wild-cards for any prediction to be safe. That being said, I'll let you know the keys to this Sunday's match-up.
If the Bears want to repeat their performance at Indianapolis, they'll need to follow the same strategy. Shutting down Carolina's running game is the key. Chicago held Indy to only 53 yards rushing, but the Colts are a passing team. John Fox will be sure to pound the run with rookie Jonathan Stewart and 3rd year DeAngelo Williams. If the Bears can hold them under 100 yards total rushing for the game, they'll have a great chance to walk out with a win.
The Panthers are also having some offensive line problems, with guard Travelle Wharton questionable for the game. Chicago's interior linemen should make every attempt to bull-rush the middle and give Jake Delhomme no time to make good decisions. Unfortunately for Jake, he still won't have his best target, as Steve Smith is serving the second game of his suspension for punching teammate Ken Lucas. Familiar face Muhsin Muhammed should serve as the most consistent threat at wide-out for the Panthers Sunday.
Offensively the Bears need to open it up a lot more. Now that teams realize rookie Matt Forte could be the real deal, they'll stack the box with eight men to slow him down. That means more opportunities will be available down-field of which Bears receivers must take advantage. Look for Devin Hester or Rashied Davis to stretch the field early to take the pressure off Forte.
It's easy to think the Bears have the Panthers' number with Steve Smith out, but this is a Carolina team that escaped San Diego with a win. Despite the Chargers' opening season slumps, that's still no easy feat. This is a definite "trap" game for the Bears. If they can pull off a victory, they'll be 2-0 without having played a divisional opponent or a home game. The NFC North will probably beat up on each other this season, making those non-divisional games significant when it goes down the stretch.
This should be a real test on Sunday to see which of these teams are threats in the NFC, or just holders of lucky week one victories over normally dominant AFC opponents. I can't wait.
Keywords: Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, NFL
