3 bold predictions for the Carolina Panthers in Week 6 vs. the Bears

Derrick Brown will get his first sack of the season.

The Carolina Panthers have suffered multiple blows on defense this week. Perhaps its best player, two-time Pro Bowler Kawann Short suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. If that wasn’t bad enough, rookie standout Yetur Gross-Matos was placed on IR with an ankle injury and Donte Jackson is questionable for Sunday’s game.

“Next man up” will have to become more than just a cliche phrase if the Panthers expect to have continued success down the stretch. That starts this week against Chicago and a sack from first-round pick Derrick Brown will go a long way in showing that Carolina’s defense is still competitive.

Bears quarterback Nick Foles was sacked three times against the Buccaneers. They are tied for 16th in sacks allowed, which should give Brown and the Panthers confidence.

On the other hand, Brown has faced double teams even with Short playing next to him on the defensive line and that doesn’t seem to be something that will change.

Brown has been effective even though he hasn’t gotten a sack yet. He’s got five tackles for a loss and two deflected passes so far this season. But achieving a quarterback takedown in this game would do a lot to show that this defense and Carolina’s roster, in general, aren’t going to lie down for anyone.