CHARLOTTE—The way this game started,it was easy to see why the Carolina Panthers came in 0-4.The Bears jumped ahead early,overcame awful quarterback play from Todd Collins,and beat horrible Carolina 23-6. The Bears(4-1) jumped out ahead,and could have turned it into a blow out by halftime,but Collins was ineffective and threw three interceptions in the first thirty minutes.Carolina(0-5) won the toss,and no doubt with lack of confidence in their depleted offense,they deferred and original Panther John Kaysay’s kickoff was returned by Daniel Manning for 62 yards to the Panthers 38. After getting stuffed on first down,Matt Forte picked up 14 to the 23.  Collins hit Devin Hester for 5 yards to the 18.On the next play Forte rounded left end,and ran untouched for a quick touchdown with just 1:45 gone in the game.After a short Robbie Gould kickoff,the Panthers started at their own 40.After a no gainer on first down, DeAngelo Williams broke a 23 yard run to the Bears 38.Jonathan Stewart on a third and seven busted a 24 yard up the middle run to the 12.Then the drive(which featured all runs(9),no passes by Jimmy Clausen died at the six and Kaysay kicked a 24 yard field goal.This time Manning’s return was for 37 yards to the Bears 32. Seventeen seconds later,it was 14-3 as Forte broke off left tackle and went the distance(68 yards)untouched! The home town Panthers and their Fans were stunned(OK, not REALLY stunned) as the large contingent of Bears Fans had a ton to cheer about early.This time Clausen and Carolina started from their own 33.After two runs for -1 total, Clausen had a pass tipped and intercepted by Julius Peppers(who was booed by his former Fans here at Bank of America Stadium) at the 27.Hester got ten on an end around. Chester Taylor picked up three to the 15, then Charles Johnson tipped a Collins pass to the ground.On third down,Earl Bennett grabbed a quick pass for four.On fourth down,Gould kicked a 28 yard field goal to make it 17-0. Gould’s kickoff was downed in the end zone by Mike Goodson.This drove was also a train wreck for Carolina,keyed by a fumble by Clausen which he fell on.After a short gain on third down, Jason Baker’s punt was returned by Hester to the 9 with only Baker himself saving a TD. Taylor then broke a tackle and crashed over the plain of the goal line,but officials huddled up and called it down by contact just inside the one,and that after the Line Judge had called it a TD. Lovie Smith threw the red flag to challenge the call,but the call on the field held up,so it became second and goal at the one.Taylor was stuffed behind the line for a one yard loss and the Panthers recovered a loose ball,but the officials ruled it was down by contact. That was challenged by John Fox who lost it as well. The Bears continue to never try Quarterback sneaks and as a result,Collins tried a pass which he threw right into the hands of DT Ed Johnson who returned it to the six. Clausen failed to hit Jeff King,but Charles Tillman was called for pass interference. Lance Briggs later sacked Clausen for a loss of six setting up a third and sixteen.Clausen his David Gettis,but Chris Harris stopped him three yards short of a first down and Jason Baker punted out of bounds away from Hester as the lengthy first quarter ended with the Bears ahead 17-3.6-16 for just 32 yards and four interceptions while Clausen was 9-22 for 61 yards before he was replaced late in the fourth quarter…..Peppers said he understood why his former Fans in Carolina booed every time his name was called on the P.A….With Green Bay’s overtime loss at Washington,the Bears are again alone atop the NFC North.

The second quarter started,but shouldn’t have. This was a joke both ways. Collins threw another interception,right to Jordan Pugh at the Panthers 25.On first down,Clausen’s pass intended for Brandon LaFell was broken up by Tillman and offensive pass interference moved the ball back ten yards to the 14.Clausen then had to fall on an aborted snap at his own 2.Williams gained 11 to the 13,but Baker had to punt and again kicked it out of bounds away from Hester at the Bears 43.That series was a flop,capped by Collins getting sacked for a six yard loss on third down. Brad Maynard punted the ball 42 yards to the Carolina 16.After another ‘three and out for Carolina,Baker punted out at the Bears 41.Collins had another pass(his third of the half) picked off by Everett Brown at the Bears 42.The Bears stopped the inept Panther offense again and Hester called for a fair catch at his ten.The second quarter(and first half)ended 17-3 Bears.

The Panthers received the second half kickoff and started at their own 30. Both teams ended up punting on their two possesions.Clausen then hit LaFell for 16 yards to the Bears 37.Then on a fourth and one from the 28, Travelle Wharton jumped for a false start forcing a field goal try which Kasay missed from 51 yards,wide right.On the Bears third possession,Collins threw his fourth pick to Charles Godfrey who returned 25 yards to the Bears 43.After getting to the 35, Kasay was successful on a 53 yard field goal to get the Panthers back to within 17-6.Manning returned the kickoff to the Bears 28. Caleb Hanie replaced Collins at that point,but the Bears were another three and bye-bye as the third quarter ended.

In the fourth quarter,the Bears added two Gould field goals, of 53 and 43 yards to close it out.

NOTES—At least 65% of the sellout crowd left at half time. Most of those who remained were Bears fans…..Collins finished  6-16 for just 32 yards and four interceptions while Clausen was 9-22 for 61 yards before he was replaced late in the fourth quarter…..Peppers said he understood why his former Fans in Carolina booed every time his name was called on the P.A….With Green Bay’s overtime loss at Washington,the Bears are again alone atop the NFC North.