Going for Two: Bears look for 2-0 start @ Carolina in Week #2

Coming off of a huge win over the Indianapolis Colts, the Chicago Bears seek to get their second win of the season when they travel to Bank of America Stadium to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 2. This game will be a reunion of sorts for the two teams. The Bears will face for the first time two of their former teammates in strong safety Chris Harris and wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad.

Offensively, quarterback Kyle Orton will need to continue to spread the ball around in the passing game and attempt to get the ball to the wide receivers more. As a team, the Bears must keep a firm grip on the pigskin—knowing that the Panthers’ Harris led the league with eight forced fumbles last season. The most resent news on the offensive side of the ball is the re-signing of offensive tackle Fred Miller. The 13-year veteran signed a one-year deal to help add much needed depth to the offensive line. Miller, who has helped pave the way for NFL greats Marshall Faulk and Eddie George, as well as former Bears running back Thomas Jones, will be a much needed asset for rookie running back Matt Forte. Not knowing if Miller will get any playing time this week, his wisdom will come in handy when giving advice to starting left tackle John St. Clair on how to defend Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers.

On the defensive side, the Bears won’t have to worry about Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith, who is suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. But they will have to worry about Muhammad, as well as running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who combined for 139 rushing yards against a stout San Diego Chargers defense last week. Last week’s NFC defensive player of the week Adewale Ogunleye, along with the rest of the front seven, will make sure to contain the Panther running game. And unlike last week, the Bears should convert back to playing in their basic 4-3 defense rather than the nickel defense they played majority of the game against the Colts.

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All in all, this Week 2 match-up has the potential to be the game of the week. Both teams possess rigid defenses that could potentially be one of the NFL’s best this season, and offenses that have proven in Week 1 that they can be poise under pressure. From the looks of it, this game may be decided in the final minutes. For the Bears’ sake, just hope that Carolina doesn’t pull off a repeat of last week’s last-second victory over the Chargers.

By Clyde A. Speller
ProFootball-fans.com Chicago Bears Correspondent