Chicago Field Goal - 41-yarder by Robbie Gould. 0:00 Time Remaining.

Panthers back on top

Carolina Field Goal - 45-yarder by Justin Medlock. 2:27 Time Remaining.

Bears take lead late

Chicago Touchdown - Cam Newton pass intercepted by Tim Jennings at the Carolina 25 and returned for 25 yards. (Jay Cutler pass incomplete to Brandon Marshall, two-point conversion failed). 6:44 Time Remaining.

Chicago closes fast

Chicago Touchdown - 12-yard pass from Jay Cutler to Kellen Davis. (Robbie Gould extra point is good). 6:52 Time Remaining. (7 plays, 38 yards. Time of Drive: 3:26).

Score: Panthers 19, Bears 7

Scoring play: A 43-yard field goal by Justin Medlock.

Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:02

Key play: A 47-yard pass from Cam Newton to Steve Smith. On first down, Newton passed a deep ball to Smith along the near sideline. Smith pulled it down at the Bears' 25 to get the Panthers within striking distance.

Time of game: 1:30 in the third.

Worth mentioning: Entering the game, Medlock had just two field goal attempts all season (both makes). Today, he has four (34, 31, 22 and 43 yards).

Medlock scores again

Carolina Field Goal - 22-yarder by Justin Medlock. 6:47 Time Remaining. (12 plays, 90 yards. Time of Drive: 6:32).

Panthers lead at half

CHICAGO – After an emotional week that included the firing of ex-general manager Marty Hurney, the Panthers used a strong defensive effort Sunday to build a 13-7 halftime lead over the Bears.

The Panthers got after Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in the first half, sacking him six times and forcing him to fumble twice – once deep in Bears' territory to set up a score.

With the Bears' facing a third-and-21 from their 32, defensive end Charles Johnson came free from Cutler's blind side, hit him and stripped him of the ball. Panthers' rookie end Frank Alexander recovered at the Bears' 16 with 33 seconds left in the first quarter.

Three plays later – on third-and-3 – quarterback Cam Newton scrambled and was headed for the end zone when safety Major Wright dislodged the ball.

Wideout Louis Murphy recovered in the end zone to give the Panthers a 10-7 lead.

On their next possession, the Panthers held the ball for 8 minutes, 19 seconds, driving 58 yards on 17 carries before settling for a Justin Medlock field goal from 31 yards that put them up 13-7.

It was the second field goal for Medlock, who had attempted only two field goals before Sunday.

The Bears had minus-20 net passing yards in the first half, and were outgained 226-44 in total yardage. Greg Hardy had three of the six sacks, which are one short of a team record for a game.

Carolina widens lead

Score: Panthers 13, Bears 7

Scoring play: A 31-yard field goal by Justin Medlock.

Drive: 17 plays, 58 yards, 8:19

Key play: On third-and-long at the Carolina 45, Cam Newton sought out Steve Smith along the near sideline. Tim Jennings was flagged for illegal contact as the ball sailed out of bounds. The penalty gave Carolina first down and extended the drive.

Time of game: 4:36 in the second quarter.

Worth mentioning: The Panthers are usuing DeAngelo Williams and the Wildcat more this game. He's taken snaps in the Wildcat twice for 10 yards. In the previous six games this season, Williams had just two carries for 6 yards out of that formation. Carolina takes lead

Score: Panthers 10, Bears 7

Scoring play: An 8-yard rush by Cam Newton to the 1, but then he fumbled into the end zone, which was recovered by WR Louis Murphy.

Drive: 3 plays, 16 yards, :48.

Key play: On third-and-long, Jay Cutler took a sack inside the Bears' 30. Charles Johnson delivered the hit and caused the fumble, and Frank Alexander fell on the ball at the Chicago 16.

Time of game: 14:30 in the second quarter.

Worth mentioning: At the end of the first quarter, the Bears had -10 yards passing. Carolina had 119 yards of total offense to the Bears' 34.

Chicago leads early

Score: Bears 7, Panthers 0

Scoring play: A 13-yard touchdown rush by Matt Forte up the middle.

Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, 1:52.

Key play: A 16-yard rush on first down by Forte. The Bears took a rushing play left, something they haven't done much of early in the game, and defensive end Frank Alexander got pushed inside. That allowed Forte to find the edge for 16 yards before free safety Haruki Nakamura tackled him in the open field.

Time of game: 4:32 in the first quarter.

Worth mentioning: The Panthers have been lining quarterback Cam Newton under center much more than in games past. He started the game under center and has been there on five of the offense's 12 snaps so far. Jonathan Stewart has played the first two series with DeAngelo Williams on the sideline.

Inactives

Plenty of familiar names are back on the inactive list for today's game against the Chicago Bears.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen, KR/PR Joe Adams, S D.J. Campbell, CB James Dockery, T Bruce Campbell and defensive ends Antawn Applewhite and Thomas Keiser are all inactive for the Panthers today.

Keiser didn't make the trip as he continues to nurse two injured shoulders. Applewhite has a hamstring injury.

Adams hasn't played since Week Three when he fumbled a kickoff and muffed a punt against the New York Giants.