The Bears didn't acquire Jay Cutler to watch him hand the ball off to Matt Forte, but that formula worked Sunday in their victory over the Panthers. Flip through the gallery for 10 more observations. | Tom Cruze/Sun-Times Media

1. If Jerry Angelo isn’t convinced the Bears need a ‘‘No. 1 receiver’’ after watching Steve Smith torch his defense for eight catches and 181 yards, he never will be. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

2. The Bears say their porous run defense is a matter of discipline — but should that be the foundation of your run defense? The Bears are 28th in the NFL with 5.1 yards allowed per carry. They were sixth in 2010 (3.7). | AP

3. It’s not news, but it’s always worth repeating whenever Devin Hester returns a kick for a TD. Hester has 11 punt returns for touchdowns in 182 returns. (1 TD for every 16.5 returns). Eric Metcalf had 10 TDs in 351 (1 TD for every 35.1 returns). | AP

4. With 15 TDs in 303 career returns (1 TD for every 20.2 returns), Hester is the greatest kick returner in NFL history, but Gale Sayers had 8 TDs 118 returns (1 TD/14.8 returns). and 8 TDs in 85 returns (1/10.7) before first knee injury. | AP

5. Speaking of all-time great Bears running backs who also returned kicks, Walter Payton led the NFL with 31.7 yards per kick return as a rookie in 1975.

6. Has a fullback always been that integral to Mike Martz’s offense? The unsung hero of the running game against the Panthers was fullback Tyler Clutts (44), who had key blocks on several of Forte’ runs, including the 46-yarder. | AP

7. Jeremy Shockey had a legitimate gripe that the offensive pass interference call that nullified his 22-yard touchdown reception was bogus. Corey Graham’s holding penalty on Johnny Knox’s punt return was not as incidental as what Shockey did. | AP

8. Speaking of tight ends, Year 2 of the Martz offense has been rife with disappointments. Whether or not the Bears miss Greg Olsen, they’re not getting what they expected from Kellen Davis, who did not have a catch Sunday and has 3 for 55 yards. | AP

9. With Chris Spencer’s broken hand and Lance Louis playing right tackle in place of Frank Omiyale on Sunday, the Bears’ offensive line continues to be in flux. You can get away with it when you run 31 times, but not when you have to pass 31 times. | AP

10. The Bears have won 6 straight against the Lions and 10 of the last 12. But with the Lions unbeaten and playing at home on Monday Night Football, this one will be more of a telltale game than the Bears have played in a long time. | AP