PANTHERS | BEARS | |
SERIES LEADER | 3-2 | |
STREAKS | 2 of past 3 | |
COACHES VS. OPP. | Rivera: 0-0 | Smith: 2-2 |
LAST WEEK | W 16-10 vs. Jaguars | L 27-17 vs. Packers |
LAST GAME | 10/10/10: Bears 23 at Panthers 6. Chicago RB Matt Forté records 2 1st-half rushing TDs (18, 68) & Bears’ defense holds Carolina to just 147 total yards. | |
LAST GAME AT SITE | 11/20/05: Bears 13, Panthers 3. Chicago QB Kyle Orton connects with WR Muhsin Muhammad for only TD of game as Chicago’s defense forces 5 turnovers. | |
BROADCAST | FOX (12:00 PM CT): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick, Laura Okmin (Filed reporter). SIRIUS: 112 (Car.), 91 (Chi.). XM: 230 (Chi.). |
STATS
PASSING | Newton (R): 70-117-1,012 (3L)-4-4-85.1 | Cutler: 62-114-858-5-3-82.4 |
RUSHING | Newton (R) (QB): 25-98-3.9-2 (T3C) | Forté: 35-119-3.4-0 |
RECEIVING | S. Smith: 16-349 (1C)-21.8-2 | Forté (RB): 22 (1C)-287 (2C)-13.0-1 |
OFFENSE | 405.7 | 304.7 |
TAKE/GIVE | -2 | +2 |
DEFENSE | 356.7 | 386.7 |
SACKS | C. Johnson: 3 | Melton: 3 |
INTs | Martin: 1 | Urlacher: 2 (T3L) |
PUNTING | Baker: 39.5 | Podlesh: 44.6 |
KICKING | Mare: 20 (5/5 PAT; 5/5 FG) | Gould: 24 (6/6 PAT; 6/6 FG) |
NOTES
PANTHERS: Head coach RON RIVERA played 9 seasons for Chi. & was assistant coach (1997-98) & defensive coordinator (2004-06) with Bears…Pass offense ties for 3rd in NFC (321.7 yards per game). Rookie QB CAM NEWTON averages 337.3 pass yards per game & is 2nd in NFC with 1,012 yards…In 9/14/08 meeting vs. Chi., RB JONATHAN STEWART rushed for 2 TDs. When he has 15+ att., team is 14-3 (.824)…WR STEVE SMITH leads NFC with 349 rec. yards (16 catches, 21.8 avg., 2 TDs). In 3 meetings (incl. playoffs), has 30 catches for 484 yards (161.3 per game) & 2 TDs. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Chi. (incl. playoffs) with 12+ catches & 169+ yards. In 2005 NFC Div., had 12 catches for 218 yards (18.2 avg.) & 2 TDs. TE GREG OLSEN was 1st round pick (No. 31 overall) by Chi. in 2007 & played 4 seasons with Bears…Team had 4 INTs & 3 sacks in last year’s meeting. DE CHARLES JOHNSON has 11 sacks in past 10. DE GREG HARDY had 1st career sack in last game vs. Chi. Had safety last week…BEARS: QB JAY CUTLER has won 4 of past 6 starts at home & has 100+ rating in 3 of past 5 home games. In career (incl. playoffs), when he has 100+ rating, his teams are 23-0…In last meeting, RB MATT FORTÉ rushed for career-high 166 yards & 2 TDs. Has 301 scrimmage yards (150.5 per game) in 2 meetings. Leads NFL RBs with 22 catches & 287 rec. yards…WR-KR-PR DEVIN HESTER has NFL record 14 career combined KR-TDs (10 PR, 4 KR). Rookie WR DANE SANZENBACHER aims for 3rd in row with TD… Defense had 5 sacks & 3 INTs in last meeting. DE ISRAEL IDONIJE had career-high 2.5 sacks in last game vs. Car. Aims for 3rd meeting in row with sack. Incl. playoffs, LB BRIAN URLACHER has INT in 2 of past 3 vs. Car. LB LANCE BRIGGS had sack in last meeting. DE JULIUS PEPPERS had INT last year in 1st game vs. Car. Played 8 season with Car. & was team’s 1st round pick (No. 2 overall) in 2002. CB CHARLES TILLMAN aims for 3rd in row vs. Car. with INT.