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Fresh off upsets, Panthers and Bears face off

Sep 9, 2008 - 8:21 PM CHICAGO (1-0) AT CAROLINA (1-0), 1:00 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Coming into the season, the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers were considered NFC also-rans - aging former contenders with glaring concerns at quarterback and running back.

The Panthers will host the Bears on Sunday in a showdown between a pair of surprise winners from Week One. By the end of next weekend, one of them will be 2-0 - a crucial head start to the season for a pair of clubs whose luster had worn off following sub-par 2007 campaigns.

The two teams' victories weren't just run-of-the-mill wins, either. Both went on the road to defeat powerhouses who - especially with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady going down for the rest of the season - are expected by most to be the top contenders in the AFC.

The Bears handled Peyton Manning and the Colts, christening Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium with a 29-13 upset.

The Panthers won in much more stunning fashion. Jake Delhomme found a leaping Dante Rosario in the back of the end zone for a game-winning 14-yard touchdown as time expired in a shocking 26-24 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

But both teams know better than to get carried away by early-season forecasts. It happened last season to the Bears, who were fresh off a Super Bowl but dropped three of their first four games. They struggled through the rest of the year amid quarterback controversies and signs of wear and tear to a once-dominant defense.

The year before, a similar fate befell the Panthers. Coming off a loss in the NFC Championship game, the Panthers were one of the trendy picks to make the Super Bowl, only to see their chances unravel after an 0-2 start.

This season, diminished expectations and question marks at the quarterback position, in particular, have temporarily been put on hold.

Chicago's Kyle Orton, a starter in 2005 before giving way to Rex Grossman a year later, reclaimed the job and looked the part in his 2008 debut. Despite modest numbers - 13-for-21 for 150 yards - he helped the Bears control the tempo of the game and, most importantly, did not turn the ball over - one of the biggest issues with Grossman and Co. over the last two seasons.

Chicago rookie Matt Forte, drafted in the second round out of Tulane, rushed for 123 yards in his regular-season debut, including a 50-yard touchdown dash. Meanwhile, the defense, which slipped to 28th in the league last season, was reminiscent of the opportunistic and playmaking unit that had dominated the league in the two years prior.

The Bears forced a crucial fumble by Colts receiver Marvin Harrison, which Lance Briggs returned 21 yards for a touchdown.

For the Panthers, Sunday's game was a welcome return for Delhomme, whose season-ending elbow injury that he suffered in Week Three last season derailed the team's playoff chances. The 33-year-old veteran completed 23-of-41 passes for 247 yards against the Chargers, and delivered a perfectly placed ball to Rosario to steal a dramatic victory.

Carolina's rookie runner, first-round pick Jonathan Stewart, rushed for 53 carries on 10 carries on Sunday, combining with DeAngelo Williams (18 carries, 86 yards) for what the team hopes will continue to be a dangerous backfield duo.