C+ QUARTERBACK: Cam Newton had his second 300-yard passing game, but threw two interceptions, fumbled twice and finished with a passer rating of 57.0. The most costly pick was not Newton's fault.

C RUNNING BACKS: It looks like DeAngelo Williams' days in Charlotte are numbered – if not by Tuesday's trade deadline, then during the offseason. Jonathan Stewart is now the featured back, although he averaged just 2.5 yards a carry.

C RECEIVERS: Steve Smith's slip was a game-changer. Smith caught seven passes for 118 yards, but still doesn't have a TD this season. Brandon LaFell returned to the game after taking a big hit to the head.

C- OFFENSIVE LINE: It doesn't matter what running scheme the Panthers are using if the line isn't opening holes. It was not a terrible effort by the line, but it still left plenty to be desired.

A DEFENSIVE LINE: Greg Hardy had a career-high three sacks, Charles Johnson had two sacks and two strips and the Panthers finished with six sacks – all in the first half. The tackles did a nice job on Matt Forte, who rushed for 70 yards after 205 and 166 yards in his past two games against Carolina.

B LINEBACKERS: Luke Kuechly again finished with a double-digit tackle total (10), although the rookie ran around a block on Forte's 13-yard touchdown run up the middle. Thomas Davis added six stops, five solo.

C DEFENSIVE BACKS: Rookie Josh Norman intercepted Jay Cutler in the first quarter, then picked him off again on a 2-point conversion try. Norman got picked on during the game-winning drive when the Panthers stayed in a soft zone.

B SPECIAL TEAMS: A year after Devin Hester went wild against Carolina, the Panthers kept the ball away from him. Hester had two punt returns for 11 yards and didn't touch the ball on a kickoff. But the directional kicking led to a 6-yard shank by punter Brad Nortman that led to a Bears' touchdown.

D COACHING: Rob Chudzinski stuck with his plan to pound the ball with a more traditional running game. But for a team with nothing to lose, Ron Rivera opted against a 50-yard field goal try from Justin Medlock at the end of the first half, and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott stayed in soft coverage as the Bears – in Rivera's words – “systematically beat” Carolina on the final drive

Joseph Person