Written by Joseph Person at Charlotte Observer.com
The Carolina Panthers nearly doubled the Chicago Bears’ in total yardage, ran the ball marginally better than they had of late and held a 17-minute edge in time of possession.
But in terms of touchdowns, Cam Newton and Co. kept giving them to the wrong team.
And that was the difference in the Panthers’ 17-3 loss to Chicago on a gray, grim day that mirrored Carolina’s offensive performance.
Newton and rookie receiver Curtis Samuel combined to put Eddie Jackson into the NFL history books. The Bears’ rookie safety became the first player to score two defensive touchdowns of 75 yards or longer in a game.
Samuel gift-wrapped Jackson’s first score by fumbling an option pitch from Newton on a promising opening drive. Samuel tried to fall on the ball, and tight end Ed Dickson also had a shot at it.
But it squirted to Jackson, who scooped it up and sprinted 75 yards in front of the Panthers’ sideline. When former GM Dave Gettleman drafted Samuel in the second round for his big-play potential, this is not what he had in mind.
“I kind of took my eyes off it too early worrying about the defense,” Samuel said. “But I’ve got to make that play.”
Jackson’s next score came early in the second quarter when Newton went to a well-covered Benjamin on a slant route on third-and-10. Cornerback Prince Amukamara wedged in front of Benjamin, knocked the ball into the air and Jackson caught the deflection and was off to the races again.
Newton was the only Panther with a chance to stop Jackson, but his diving tackle attempt came up empty.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the 6-5 Benjamin could have shielded the 6-foot corner from the ball, and Benjamin took the blame for what transpired after Amukamara batted it.
“He stuck his hand in there and popped it up. I couldn’t find it. Safety came and picked it,” Benjamin said. “I’ve got to do a better job of finding that ball and knocking it down.”
The Panthers had long fields most of the day and picked up their yardage the hard way.
Benjamin’s acrobatic, 37-yard catch at the end of the first half was the only completion longer than 20 yards, and was wasted when slot receiver Russell Shepard (and others) couldn’t get set in time for Newton to spike the ball and set up Graham Gano for a field goal.
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