The Chicago Sun Times nails a key to Carolina’s divisional playoff game vs. Chicago tomorrow: the Panther running attack. The Panthers gave up on the run back in November en route to a 13-3 Bears victory:

[The Bears] sacked quarterback Jake Delhomme eight times with defensive linemen in the first meeting because Carolina’s ground game was nonexistent, and offensive coordinator Dan Henning bailed on it early as the Panthers rushed just five times in the second half despite never trailing by more than 10 points.

It was a classic chicken-and-egg situation. The Panthers’ best chance to pass vs. that rush was first down. Throw on first down then. Then second and long if incomplete. Throw again, maybe a sack. Third and long, throw again and often a sack. Punt. Repeat. It was ugly.

Gain yards on first down and do not turn the ball over. A Carolina formula for a win.