2-0 Awaits Either Panthers or Bears

Football Betting Lines

09/12/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Panthers opened their 2008 season with an eye- opening road victory over one of the AFC's most highly-regarded teams this past Sunday. Later on in the day, the Chicago Bears matched Carolina's hand with a bold-type interconference away win of their own.

These architects of two of the biggest surprises on the Week 1 docket will lay their cards out on the table again this Sunday, when the clubs square off at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium.

The Panthers stood toe-to-toe with two-time defending AFC West champion San Diego for three quarters last weekend before seemingly relenting in the fourth, when the Chargers put together back-to-back touchdown drives to take a late five-point lead. However, Carolina responded with an 11-play, 68-yard drive capped by quarterback Jake Delhomme's 14-yard scoring strike to tight end Dante Rosario on the game's final play to come through with a thrilling 26-24 triumph.

Chicago's season-beginning victory lacked the drama of Carolina's, but was by no means less impressive. The Bears overmatched perennial playoff participant Indianapolis at both lines of scrimmage and spoiled the Colts' official christening of brand-new Lucas Oil Stadium with a stunning 29-13 decision.

The win was keyed by a resurgent defense which displayed the same ferocity the unit showed in carrying the Bears to a Super Bowl showdown with the Colts two seasons back. Chicago completely neutralized Indianapolis' running game and was able to effectively pressure an out-of-sync Peyton Manning into a rather ordinary and uneventful night.

On offense, the Bears combined an efficient outing from quarterback Kyle Orton with a potent rushing attack that rolled up 183 yards on Indianapolis' undersized defenders. Rookie running back Matt Forte justified his high pick in the 2008 draft and immediate insertion in the team's starting lineup by churning out 123 yards on 23 carries, including a 50-yard touchdown burst in the first quarter that set the tone for last week's upset.

Chicago may find those tasks tougher to master in this week's quest for a second straight road win. The Panthers' defense was able to hold Chargers all- world running back LaDainian Tomlinson in check during Week 1, while a rushing offense that produced 142 yards against San Diego should present more of a challenge to the Bears than the banged-up Colts offered.

Last Sunday's ousting of the Chargers was a first step in Carolina's goal to erase the disappointment of last year's 7-9 campaign, but the Panthers still have one more demon left to conquer. The team lost six of their eight tests at Bank of America Stadium in 2007 and averaged a paltry 13.9 points per game on its home turf.

SERIES HISTORY

Chicago owns a 2-1 lead in the all-time regular season series with Carolina, breaking a deadlock with a 13-3 home victory in Week 11 of the 2005 season. The Bears also earned a 31-27 Soldier Field triumph over the Panthers in 1995, and Carolina's lone win in the series came in the form of a 24-14 triumph in Charlotte during the 2002 campaign.

The most recent meeting between the clubs was also the most memorable, as the Panthers were 29-21 road winners in a 2005 NFC Divisional Playoff.

Carolina head coach John Fox is 2-1 all-time against Chicago. The Bears' Lovie Smith is 1-1 against both Fox and the Panthers as a head coach.

WHEN THE BEARS HAVE THE BALL

Expect Chicago to employ the same ball-control game plan that worked so successfully against Indianapolis on Sunday. That means the Panthers will see a heavy dose of Forte and a sprinkling of former Lion Kevin Jones, who ran for 45 yards on 13 attempts in his Bears debut. An offensive line that was supposed to a weak link this season had its way with the Colts last week, with six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz spearheading the much-improved rushing effort.

Orton may have the unwanted label of a game manager, but the fourth-year pro's mistake-free performance in the opener showed why the coaching staff chose him over the erratic Rex Grossman to be the team's regular signal-caller in the preseason. He completed 13-of-21 throws for 150 yards against the Colts, not bad numbers considering Chicago's lack of reliable options at wide receiver. Most of the damage was done by tight ends Desmond Clark (2 receptions) and Greg Olsen (2 receptions), who combined for 82 yards receiving. The non- threatening starting wideout duo of ex-Redskins reject Brandon Lloyd (2 receptions) and Rashied Davis (2 receptions) had just four catches totaling 36 yards. Forte finished with a team-best three grabs for a mere 18 yards as Orton's safety valve.

The Panthers have been traditionally stout against the run during Fox's seven seasons as head coach, although the jury's still out as to whether the team can replace one of its top stoppers in tackle Kris Jenkins, a multiple Pro Bowl honoree who was traded to the Jets in the spring. Carolina still has one good plugger along the interior in massive tackle Maake Kemoeatu (4 tackles in Week 1) as well as a quality middle linebacker in second-year standout Jon Beason (7 tackles), who ranked among the NFL leaders with 140 stops as a rookie. He headlines an athletic three-man corps that also includes veteran Na'il Diggs (8 tackles) on the strong side and former first-round pick Thomas Davis (5 tackles, 1 PD) opposite him. The Panthers limited Tomlinson to a respectable 97 rushing yards on 21 totes a week ago.

Carolina's defense does boast two big-time playmakers in freakish end Julius Peppers (1 tackle) and strong safety Chris Harris (10 tackles), a one-time Bear whom Chicago dealt to the Panthers prior to the start of last season. Peppers has delivered double-digit sack totals in four of his first six NFL campaigns and can be simply unblockable when at his best. Harris led the league with eight forced fumbles a year ago and produced another one last week that cornerback Chris Gamble (5 tackles, 2 PD) returned for a key second-half touchdown. Gamble and Ken Lucas (2 tackles) are experienced members of a secondary that did yield three touchdowns through the air in last week's win. With Peppers often drawing double teams, Carolina managed a subpar 23 sacks last season, and Diggs had the team's only one in the San Diego game.

WHEN THE PANTHERS HAVE THE BALL

Like the Bears, Carolina's preference is to pound away at its opponent on the ground behind a rebuilt line that possesses plenty of beef. That philosophy worked well against the Chargers, as the two-back tandem of DeAngelo Williams (86 rushing yards, 1 reception) and Jonathan Stewart (53 rushing yards) averaged nearly five yards per carry in their season debuts. The Panthers did have two starters up front - left guard Travelle Wharton and rookie right tackle Jeff Otah - miss a share of last week's game with knee sprains, but both are expected to be OK for Sunday.

Carolina will be running at a Chicago front seven that stonewalled the Colts in the opener, surrendering just 53 rushing yards and rendering Indy's offense one-dimensional. That's a stark improvement from the injury-plagued group that allowed nearly 123 yards on the ground last season (24th overall). Pro Bowl stalwarts Brian Urlacher (8 tackles) and Lance Briggs (8 tackles) lead a speedy trio of linebackers that compromise the nucleus of the Bears' hard- hitting defense, while the disruptive Tommie Harris (1 tackles) is one of the game's premier two-way tackles. End Adewale Ogunleye made a large contribution as well to last week's win, amassing six stops (3 for loss) and tackling Colts running back Joseph Addai for a safety late in the first half.

The Panthers' offense was expected to be at a huge disadvantage last week due to the absence of dynamic wide receiver Steve Smith, who will sit out this contest as well while serving a team-issued suspension. Carolina managed to get by just fine, however, thanks to a strong showing by the gritty Delhomme (247 passing yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) and solid games out of the new wideout duo of ex-Bear Muhsin Muhammad (6 receptions, 56 yards) and D.J. Hackett (5 receptions, 48 yards). Rosario, seldom used as a rookie last season, also stepped up big in Smith's absence with a seven-catch, 96-yard effort. The young tight end did sprain his foot during the game, however, which puts his availability and effectiveness in question for Sunday. The line did a good job of protection as well, as Delhomme was sacked just once in 41 pass attempts.

Chicago's secondary did give up 240 net passing yards and a few big plays to Manning and his accomplished group of receivers, but that still should be classified as an overall solid job. While the team's safeties can be suspect in coverage at times, the cornerback combo of Charles Tillman (6 tackles, 1 PD) and Nathan Vasher (4 tackles) is a strength. Most importantly, the Bears' pass rush was able to keep Manning out of rhythm for a good portion of the night, even though end Alex Brown (2 tackles) and reserve rookie tackle Marcus Harrison had the only sacks. Tillman came up with one of the game's crucial plays when he stripped Colts receiver Marcus Harrison late in the third quarter, with Briggs taking the fumble 21 yards for a touchdown.

FANTASY FOCUS

With Steve Smith still unavailable, there really isn't an absolute must-start to be found on either side. That is unless you're playing in a league that contains individual defensive players, where steady point-producers such as Urlacher, Briggs, Beason, Peppers, Chris Harris and Ogunleye should all be used without hesitation. Forte showed himself to be a capable No. 2 running back in the opener, but his owners shouldn't expect a duplication of the rookie's outstanding numbers on Sunday. Carolina's backfield time-share of Williams and Stewart makes neither runner a great option, although Williams appears to have the better chance to make a notable impact. Delhomme doesn't rank among the elite fantasy quarterbacks, but those who had the gutsy Cajun as a backup to Tom Brady could do worse as an injury fill-in. Orton hasn't yet proven to be worthy of a bench spot at this stage. For those seeking a sleeper, how about Rosario? The young tight end has the speed and athleticism to get to the open spots in Chicago's base Cover-2 zone and was Delhomme's favorite target last week. Check the weekly injury report before making a decision on him, however. Also keep on eye on Panthers kicker John Kasay, who drilled four field goals in the Week 1 win over San Diego. Both defenses scored a touchdown in their first games and warrant consideration as well.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

In many ways, these teams are mirror images of one another, as each likes to grind it out on offense and sport defenses that can contain the run and have shown the ability to come up with momentum-changing plays. With both coaches fond of utilizing a conservative approach, a low-scoring and competitive affair appears to be on the horizon. However, it remains to be seen as to whether the Bears can run the ball, or stop it, as skillfully this time against a Panthers squad that should be stronger in the trenches than Indianapolis showed itself to be last week, or if they're capable of winning a tough game on the road if Orton has to throw more than 21 times. Carolina's experience edge at quarterback and better contingent of receivers should provide enough of an edge to allow its fans to witness what was a rare occurrence in 2007 -- a victory by the home team.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Panthers 20, Bears 13