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I like the Panthers a lot more than EPR does. They outgained the Bears, but turnovers and red-zone failures doomed Carolina. In the first quarter, the Panthers had three shots from inside the Chicago 10 to score a touchdown but had to settle for a field goal. In the second, they had three shots from inside the Chicago 5 but again failed to punch it in. This is still a fun, scrappy, well-coached team. But there are going to be games where their lack of talent catches up to them.

Their little winning streak ended with the home loss to the Bears. The offense didn't do enough, which has to be a concern.

What a great signing WR Robby Anderson has been, his reunion with former Temple coach Matt Rhule helping him blossom into a weapon averaging nearly 100 yards a week.

Most impactful injury: DT Kawann Short

With Short alongside first-round pick Derrick Brown, this front four had a chance to be something special this year. They had two players who would demand double-teams, get a solid inside push and free up the edge rushers. Without Short, there's more pressure on Brown and Zach Kerr to step up. It also puts more pressure on the depth at tackle, which could be a factor deep in the season. It might ultimately lead to Carolina playing more three-man fronts, which isn't necessarily a bad thing with the speed the Panthers have on the edge from players such as Brian Burns. -- David Newton

The three-game winning streak is kaput because the Panthers' offense had a bad day at the office. Teddy Bridgewater struggled against a consistent Bears pass rush, and Carolina's red-zone issues were magnified in a 23-16 loss. Bridgewater was constantly on the run and sacked four times, a far cry from the past two weeks, when the QB wasn't sacked once. D.J. Moore had three drops, Mike Davis fumbled deep in Carolina territory and Bridgewater threw the game-deciding pick in the final minutes. The Panthers have proven they can win -- and even thrive -- without Christian McCaffrey, but his absence is more apparent when the level of competition jumps up a notch.