A heart-pounding competition between two teams heading in opposite directions occurred on Sunday at noon central time. After the dust had cleared the Bears came away with one of their greatest comebacks in recent memory. Let's take a closer look at how this all went down.
Preface
The Bears sported a 5-1 record after dismantling the Detroit Lions on national television the week before. Their defense was in top form: 2nd in sacks (21), 1st in interceptions (14), 2nd in forced fumbles (10), and 1st in defensive touchdowns (5). The offense had not yet hit their stride, even with Brandon Marshall on a record-setting pace and their numerous weapons acting somewhat dormant.
Cam Newton's Panthers had undergone a tumultuous week. General Manager Marty Hurney was fired as pre-season expectations were not being met through 7 weeks. Newton had been outspoken in the media about how changes needed to be made. The Rookie of the Year a year ago, Newton (58.4 completion %, 1,387 yards, 5 TD, 6 INT) had struggled mightily in his sophomore year. The Panthers were also without their freakish middle linebacker Jon Beason who they lost for the season.
Game-time temperature was 49 degrees with 18 MPH swirling winds. The Panthers came in at 1-2 in early games, the Bears 2-0. Neither team had played a game with the temperature that low at this point in the season.
Game Keys
The first quarter featured what many people expected; Matt Forte tearing up the Panthers' run defense, flashes of Bears offensive brilliance, and solid, if not fantastic, Bears defense. The Panthers held their own though, and kept the game close by a score of 7-3 at the end of the first.
The second quarter began with the Panthers in the redzone because of a strip-sack of Jay Cutler towards the end of the first. Charles Johnson was credited with the sack but it was Dwan Edwards that made it happen after he sniffed out a Matt Forte screen and forced Jay Cutler to hold on to the ball.
A Cam Newton fumble was recovered in the endzone for a touchdown soon after and the Panthers steadily built on their lead while the Bears offense continued to sputter throughout the game.
The Bears cut into the Panthers lead with 6:54 remaining in the game as Cutler found tight end Kellen Davis in the endzone with a high rope of a throw. The extra point made the game 19-14.
The next play from scrimmage would be the biggest of the game. Newton looked for WR Steve Smith who slipped on an 8 yard out route and the pass was intercepted by Bears CB Tim Jennings who returned it 20 yards for a touchdown and the bears first lead since early in the 2nd quarter.
Newton would drive his team down for a field goal on the next possession, only to be matched by Cutler and the Bears, who left no time on the clock as the Robbie Gould field goal sailed through the uprights.
