National Football League

O-line redeems itself

Published Oct. 20, 2010 2:12 a.m. ET

foxsports

If there was any doubt that the Bears planned to run and run often against the Panthers, it was erased when it was announced that J'Marcus Webb will start at right tackle for veteran Kevin Shaffer. The 6-7, 328-pound rookie is a road grader who does his best work moving forward.

It was evident then, if not before, that this was not a day for a fancy passing attack.

''When you lose like we did last week you have to come back with a vengeance,'' Webb said after helping the Bears rush for 218 yards in his first NFL start. ''You don't want to loaf around or anything like that.''

This game was about redemption for a much-maligned offensive line that allowed an NFL record nine sacks in the first half of the loss to the Giants. The unit, which also started inexperienced Edwin Williams at right guard for Lance Louis, remains a work in progress but proved for the first time that it can open holes in the running game.

Matt Forte's touchdown runs of 18 and 68 yards gave the Bears an insurmountable early lead and were the product of solid blocking up front as well as key blocks thrown down the field by receivers Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett.

''We deserved what we got last week,'' center Olin Kreutz said. ''We'll take a little pat on the back maybe this week but every game in the NFL is so different. That's the NFL these days. You just have to stay even-keeled and come back and play well the next week.''

BREAKING OLD HABITS

When Chris Harris ran through the tunnel and onto the field he momentarily headed for the home sideline out of habit before realizing his mistake.

''It feels good when you go up against your former team and beat them,'' the ex-Panther said. ''It's my second time experiencing that. I did it in Carolina when we played the Bears. I'm 2-for-2 in that area. It's a fine line between love and hate. Fans are going to be fans.''

Carolina linebacker Jon Beason said Julius Peppers was just being himself when he responded to the Carolina crowd that was giving him the business all day.

''He's getting paid to do a job,'' Beason said. ''He was himself today. I don't think he did anything that was 'un-Pepp.' He had fun. He made plays. And we still had opportunities to move the ball.''

Beason said he got a ''pat on the back'' after the game from his friends on the Bears, including Peppers and Harris. ''But in the offseason they'll be jabbin' at us. But that's part of the business.'''

GETTING A BREAK

Bears receiver Devin Hester got a breather in the fourth quarter on several plays. That's part of the plan, he said.

''I'm a returner, too, so they're just trying to keep my legs fresh throughout the course of a game,'' said Hester, who had a catch for five yards and a run for 10 yards. ''We just have too many athletes, for everybody not to get an opportunity to get on the field.''

RIGHT IN HIS HANDS

Safety Danieal Manning rued a missed opportunity for an interception when he appeared to bat down a long pass with two hands near the goal line.

''It was weird,'' Manning said. ''I slipped on that play. I was trying to catch up to the ball and it was right there in my face. There was a glare and I lost it.''

BEAR NECESSITIES

Tight end Desmond Clark was inactive for a second consecutive week. Quarterback Jay Cutler (concussion), safety Major Wright (hamstring), cornerback Josh Moore, running back Kahlil Bell, tackle Chris Williams (hamstring), defensive end Charles Grant and defensive tackle Marcus Harrison did not dress.

For the Panthers, QB Tony Pike, RB Tyrell Sutton, safety Sherrod Martin, linebacker Jamar Williams, center Chris Morris, DT Andre Neblett, tackle Jeff Otah and receiver Steve Smith were inactive.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 12

W DETROIT

19-14

Sept. 19

W at Dallas

27-20

Sept. 19

W GREEN BAY

20-17

OCT. 3

L at NY Giants

17-3

OCT. 10

Wat Carolina

23-6

OCT. 17

SEATTLE

Noon, Fox-32

OCT. 24

WASHINGTON

Noon, Fox-32

BYE WEEK

NOV. 7

at Buffalo in Toronto

Noon, Fox-32

NOV. 14

MINNESOTA

Noon, Fox-32

NOV. 28

PHILADELPHIA

Noon, Fox-32

NOV. 18

at Miami

7:20 p.m., NFLN

DEC. 5

at Detroit

Noon, Fox-32

DEC. 12

NEW ENGLAND

Noon, Ch. 2

DEC. 20

at Minnesota

7:30 p.m., ESPN

DEC. 26

NEW YORK JETS

Noon, Ch. 2

JAN. 2

at Green Bay

Noon, Fox-32

SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER

13:15: BEARS--Forte 18 run (Gould kick). Drive: 4 plays, 38 yards, 1:45. Key plays: Manning 62 kickoff return to Carolina 38; Forte 14 run.

7:52: PANTHERS--FG Kasay 24. Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, 5:23. Key plays: D.Williams 23 run; Stewart 24 run on 3rd-and-8.

7:35: BEARS--Forte 68 run (Gould kick). Drive: 1 play, 68 yards, 0:17.

4:37: BEARS--FG Gould 28. Drive: 5 plays, 17 yards, 1:43. Key plays: Peppers interception at Carolina 27; Hester 10 run.

THIRD QUARTER

2:15: PANTHERS--FG Kasay 53. Drive: 7 plays, 8 yards, 2:52. Key plays: Godfrey 24 interception return to BEARS 43; Fiammetta 3 run on 3rd-and-1.

FOURTH QUARTER

3:36: BEARS--FG Gould 53. Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards, 2:27. Key play: Forte 10 run.

1:56: BEARS--FG Gould 43. Drive: 4 plays, -2 yards, 1:27. Key play: Urlacher interception at Carolina 23.

INDIVIDUAL STATS

BEARS

RUSHING

Att Yds Avg Lng

M. Forte 22 166 7.5 68

C. Taylor 18 43 2.4 10

D. Hester 1 10 10.0 10

C. Hanie 1 -1 -1.0 0

PASSING

Att /Cmp Yds Int

T. Collins 16 6 32 4

C. Hanie 3 2 19 0

RECEIVING

No Yds Lg

M. Forte 2 22 14

J. Knox 1 14 14

C. Taylor 2 11 6

E. Bennett 1 4 4

D. Hester 2 0 5

PUNT RETURNS

No Yds Lng

D. Hester 3 68 50

KICKOFF RETURNS

No Yds Lng

D. Manning 3 133 62

DEFENSE

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS-- Idonije 5-2-3, C.Harris 5-2-0, Briggs 5-0-1, Adams 4-0-0, Manning 3-1-0, Toeaina 3-0-0, Peppers 2-2-0, Tillman 2-2-0, Urlacher 2-2-0, Tinoisamoa 2-1-1, Bullocks 2-0-0, Iwuh 2-0-0, Jennings 1-3-0, Melton 1-1-0, Wolfe 1-1-0, Bowman 1-0-0, Garza 1-0-0, Graham 1-0-0, Knox 1-0-0, D.Moore 1-0-0, Roach 1-0-0, Taylor 1-0-0, E.Williams 1-0-0, Wilson 0-1-0, Wootton 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS--Tillman 1-17, Peppers 1-0, Urlacher 1-0.

PANTHERS

RUSHING

Att Yds Avg Lng

D. Willms 12 51 4.3 23

J. Stewart 8 30 3.8 24

A. Edwards 1 7 7.0 7

Fiammetta 1 3 3.0 3

J. Clausen 2 0 0.0 0

D. Gettis 1 -6 -6.0 0

PASSING

Att /Cmp Yds Int

J. Clausen 22 9 61 1

M. Moore 10 5 35 2

RECEIVING

No Yds Lg

D. Gettis 3 32 13

J. King 3 20 14

B. LaFell 1 16 16

D. Clowney 2 14 8

D. Williams 3 8 5

J. Stewart 1 4 4

D. Rosario 1 2 2

PUNT RETURNS

No Yds Lng

C. Munnerlyn 3 9 4

KICKOFF RETURNS

No Yds Lng

M. Goodson 2 62 32

E. Norwood 1 17 17

DEFENSE

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS--Beason 8-2-0, Connor 6-5-0, Anderson 4-4-01/2, Marshall 4-1-1, Hayden 4-1-01/2, Godfrey 4-0-0, Brown 3-0-0, Pugh 2-2-0, Hardy 2-1-1, Landri 2-1-0, Barnidge 2-0-0, E.Johnson 2-0-0, C.Johnson 1-3-0, Hudson 1-1-0, Bernadeau 1-0-0, Clausen 1-0-0, Goodson 1-0-0, Norwood 1-0-0, Schwartz 1-0-0, Gamble 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS--Godfrey 1-24, E.Johnson 1-5, Brown 1-0, Pugh 1-(minus 2).

TEAM STATISTICS

BEARS PANTHERS

Total first downs 13 8

Rushing/passing/penalty 10/2/1 3/4/1

Third-down efficiency 3/15 3/18

Fourth-down efficiency 0/0 1/1

Total net yards 247 147

Total off. plays/avg. gain 64/3.9 62/2.4

Net yards rushing 218 85

Total rushing plays/avg. gain 42/5.2 25/3.4

Net yards passing 29 62