IMPROVEMENT IN RUN DEFENSE

A week after surrendering 166 yards rushing and 6.9 yards per carry, the Panthers vastly improved their run defense against the Bears.

Chicago finished with 63 yards on 25 carries, averaging 2.5 yards per attempt.

“I think anytime you hold someone in the NFL under 100 yards (rushing), it’s a good day,” Rhule said.

Linebacker Tahir Whitehead attributed the improvement to Carolina’s defenders playing gap-sound football. Last week, Rhule said the Panthers needed to eliminate “silly stuff” like defenders spinning out of their assigned gap.

“When you have everyone on defense, all 11 guys doing their job, fitting the gaps that they’re supposed to be in, using your hands, getting off blocks, and getting to the ball, you’re going to play great defense,” Whitehead said. “We just have to do it more consistently and do