CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A few thoughts on the Carolina Panthers' 31-24 victory over the Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium:
What it means: The Panthers have been looking for the chemistry that made them successful last season, and finally seemed to find it late in the first half. Having been outscored 75-29 in their previous two games and trailing 21-7, the Panthers got back to what they do best. They became more disciplined on defense after a shaky first half, and quarterback Cam Newton showed he doesn’t have to run to beat you.
For the defense, the key was playing gap control, pressuring the quarterback and forcing turnovers. They forced turnovers in the fourth quarter, and Newton took advantage with pinpoint accuracy. Prior to that, Carolina looked like the team that had been routed the past two weeks. When Chicago took a 21-7 lead, it marked the 15th time in the last 21 drives the Panthers had given up points. The problem remained the same: missed tackles and players out of position. They tightened things up in the second half, which could be a good sign moving forward. They still lead the division with a 3-2 record.
Stock watch: The coaches keep saying wide receiver/return specialist Philly Brown has something special. He definitely showed good awareness after being leveled on a punt return before the ball even arrived. With officials throwing flags and the players in a scrum, Brown scooped up the loose ball and ran 79 yards down the left sideline to give Carolina a 7-0 lead. It marked the first punt return for a touchdown by Carolina in 164 games, ending the longest streak in the NFL. The last came by Steve Smith in 2003. Brown also dropped a punt and looked lost on a couple of others to go with two rushes for 22 yards. He remains a work in progress.
Rookie mistakes: As spectacular as wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin looks on some catches, he's still making rookie mistakes. He had a fumble and a couple of drops, none bigger than the one inside the 15 with 4½ minutes remaining. He had another pass where he got turned around in the end zone and never made a play on the ball.
Game ball: Newton still hasn’t been unleashed with his legs, but he was throwing strikes with his arm. After a slow start he finished 19-for-35 for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Were it not for drops, his numbers would have looked better.
What’s next: The Panthers begin a two-game road trip with a 1 p.m. ET game at Cincinnati. This will begin the toughest stretch of the year for Carolina against Cincinnati, Green Bay, New Orleans, Seattle and Philadelphia.
