CHICAGO (3-1) At CAROLINA (0-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE – Bears by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Chicago 2-2-0; Carolina 1-3-0
SERIES RECORD – Panthers lead 3-2
LAST MEETING – Panthers 20, Bears 17, Sept. 14, 2008
LAST WEEK – Bears lost to Giants 17-3; Panthers lost to Saints 16-14
BEARS OFFENSE – OVERALL (25), RUSH (31), PASS (17)
BEARS DEFENSE – OVERALL (17), RUSH (6), PASS (27)
PANTHERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (30), RUSH (17), PASS (28)
PANTHERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (18), RUSH (19), PASS (16)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Five-time Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers returns to Charlotte, where he spent eight seasons before signing free-agent deal with Chicago. … Peppers, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft, is Carolina’s career leader with 81 sacks, 29 forced fumbles and nine blocked kicks. … Peppers wanted to be free agent after 2008 season, but Panthers used franchise tag and paid him $18.2 million last year. … Bears QB Jay Cutler, sacked nine times in first half against Giants before leaving with concussion, will miss Sunday’s game. … Todd Collins, who replaced him in second half, will get start, ending Cutler’s streak of 57 starts in a row. … Bears managed 110 yards and allowed franchise-high 10 sacks against Giants. … Matt Forte has 136 catches for 1,157 yards since start of 2008 season, most by an NFL RB. … Bears S Chris Harris traded by Carolina to Bears for LB Jamar Williams in offseason. … Bears LB Lance Briggs has 40 tackles, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery this season. … Panthers off to worst start since 1998, when they started 0-7 in coach Dom Capers’ final year. … Panthers average league-low 11 1/2 points per game, have scored five TD and committed 13 turnovers. … Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen, who threw first NFL TD pass last week, may be throwing to three rookie WRs with Steve Smith (ankle) sidelined and Dwayne Jarrett released after DWI arrest. … RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have combined for 355 yards rushing after each topped 1,100 last season.
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