As injuries pile up, the Panthers fall victim to the Bears

CHICAGO – As injuries mount on defense, the Panthers’ margin for error is smaller.

On Sunday it got smaller and smaller.

With outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney leaving in the second quarter with a shoulder injury as one of many injuries, the Panthers fell 36-10 to the Bears at Soldier Field.

The Panthers were already without captains Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson (on injured reserve) and inside linebacker Josey Jewell was inactive with hamstring and groin injuries.

It was perhaps no coincidence that the Bears took a 27-7 halftime lead while amassing 289 yards of total offense. (The Bears averaged 253.0 yards per game in their first four games.)

With so many pieces missing, the remaining Panthers had to play perfectly, and they couldn’t do that on Sunday.

While the Bears were wild in the first half, the Panthers were 0 of 6 on third-down conversions, putting additional strain on a weakened defense. After the Bears completed a 13-play touchdown drive, the Panthers responded on the next possession with a three-and-out, which is the opposite of complementary football.

They turned the ball over three times and got into a fight after a late Bears touchdown that further highlighted the day’s frustrations. Jaycee Horn was ejected late in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers let Bryce Young close out the game after the Bears took a 36-10 lead, and he hit a few balls down before his drive was ended with a sack on fourth down. He was 4 of 7 for 58 yards passing,

Andy Dalton was 18 of 28 for 136 yards and an interception, a struggle after two strong performances against the Raiders and Bengals.