Panthers Are Untaunted at Home

Booed off their own field a year ago, the Carolina Panthers made winning back their fans a priority in their slow rebuilding process.

They made a small stride Sunday with a 24-14 victory over the Chicago Bears to finish the season .500 at Ericsson Stadium -- where they were winless last season and were humiliated in their final game.

“When you are trying to build something, [winning at home] was real big for us,” said first-year Coach John Fox. “Our fans have been patient to say the least. We are making strides and building some type of momentum.”

The win proved how far the Panthers (6-9) have come under Fox, who inherited a team that set an NFL record with 15 consecutive losses in a season and closed the 2001 season by being blown out at home, 38-6, by the New England Patriots.

The crowd that day was dominated by Patriot fans and the few Carolina supporters in attendance showered the Panthers with jeers and taunts that were heard loud and clear by management.

So Fox spent most of the week stressing to the Panthers that they had to win their home finale for the fans.

“The fans have been through so much the past few years with us and they deserve to see us play well and to see us win,” tight end Wesley Walls said.

The Panthers got two touchdown runs from Dee Brown.

The Bears (4-11) lost their seventh consecutive road game.