In the only matchup of 4-1 teams this weekend, the Carolina Panthers take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday night under the bright lights; the teams have actually played very similarly this season, with their defenses being the main reasons for their success thus far. What can the Panthers do this week against the Lions? As always, here’s our preview, let’s count things down.
Five Panthers We Have Questions About:
#1 Cam Newton, Quarterback
Can he throw for over 300 yards for a third week in a row for the first time in his career or is his going to have a sub 200 yard game like he did after throwing for over 400 yards in back to back games to start his career? Considering the Eagles have a stout run defense can Newton carry the offense in a similar manner to his performance against the Lions?
#84 Ed Dickson, Tight End
Will he be able to come close to replicating his 175 yard performance against the Eagles? Is he simply filling in for Olsen or has he found his role in the offense? Will the Eagles key in on him? Can he now create mismatches and open up the offense for others?
#75 Matt Kalil, Left Tackle
Has his good play been a symptom of playing lesser defensive fronts or has Kalil gained the confidence to face off against Vinny Curry? Will the Panthers leave him on an island or will they use running backs and tight ends to help him? Can he make a positive impact as a run blocker?
#97 Mario Addison, Defensive End
Why has he been having so much trouble as a run defender? Can he help contain LeGarrette Blount or will Wes Horton be asked to step in more? Can he continue to impact the passing game enough to make up for his run stopping woes?
#31 Jairus Byrd, Safety
After only seeing 24 snaps on Sunday will Byrd have a larger role against the Eagles? Does he have a big enough grasp of the defense to make an impact? Will the short week effect how much playing time he sees? After allowing zero receptions against the Lions will the Eagles test Byrd more?
Four important matchups:
Daryl Williams vs Brandon Graham
Daryl Williams has quietly solidified the right side of the offensive line this season. Meanwhile, Brandon Graham has picked up where he left off last year and has terrorized offensive tackles this season; Williams has 60 pounds and three inches on Graham but the defensive end possesses the speed and technique to make Williams pay for any hesitations. This matchup will tell us a lot about Williams’ growth this season and has the potential to dictate how the Panthers offense performs against a stout defensive front.
Jason Kelce vs Kawann Short
Jason Kelce has been one of the best, if not the best, center in the NFL this season while Short has torn through offensive lines and created opportunity after opportunity for himself and his teammates. The Eagles have had a lot of success rushing behind Kelce and it will be Short’s responsibility to keep his linebackers clean and make plays in short yardage situations. If Kelce gets the best of Short, then the Panthers defense won’t be able to contain a strong Eagles offense. If Short can win the matchup, the Eagles become one-dimensional and the Panthers will be in a good position to create turnovers.
Mike Adams vs Zach Ertz
Ertz has been Carson Wentz’s safety blanket in much the same way that Olsen has been Cam Newton’s safety blanket for years. As such, it is imperative that the Panthers blanket Ertz as much as possible. Mike Adams will likely be the defender tasked with tracking Ertz and how well he does will have a large impact on the Eagles’ passing game.
Thomas Davis vs LeGarrette Blount
Blount is one of the most physical backs in the NFL and a large reason for the Eagles offensive surge through the last few weeks. While Thomas Davis has been particularly bad against the run this season, he showed strong against bigger backs in 2016. Davis will need to slow down Blount in order to allow the Panthers secondary to focus on Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor.
Three Things the Panthers Need To Do To Win:
Attack the sidelines
The strength of the Eagles defense is their defensive line and their ability to control the middle of the field; as such, the best way to attack them is to attack the side lines. Using wide receiver screens, jet sweeps, single back formations, and bunch formations to force the Eagles to spread their defense thin is the best way to create space for the Panthers rushing attack and the best way to keep the Eagles defense on their heels.
Play physical
The Panthers will need to play physical, smashmouth football on both sides of the ball in order to win this game. However, it will be more important for the defense to match the physicality of the Eagles’ offense. If the defense can match the Eagles’ physicality then the offense won’t need to play as aggressive; however, if they can’t match Philly’s intensity, the offense will need to take an aggressive approach to passing downfield. If the Panthers’ offense matches the physical nature of the Eagles’ defense then the rushing attack should pick up steam and the offense as a whole will start to roll.
Play smart
Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense has done a great job of taking what the defense gives them and making them pay for playing over aggressive. The best way to approach defending their offense is similar to how you approach defending the Patriots: play smart, don’t seek personal glory, and play as a unit. On the flip side, the Eagles defense thrives on pressuring the quarterback and forcing offenses to make poor decision. If the Panthers are going to win, Newton will have to play efficiently and not have unforced errors.
Two Reasons The Panthers Could Lose:
The Eagles out match the Panthers in the trenches
If the Eagles win the battle of the trenches on both sides of the ball, the Panthers will be in a precarious position. If the Panthers defense can’t pressure Wentz, the secondary will be left out to dry against strong receivers and a smart quarterback. If the Eagles can pressure Newton frequently, then there is a chance that they sack him nine times like they did in 2014. If any of these things happen, the Panthers will lose.
The Eagles have success rushing up the middle
The Eagles offense thrives when they can easily convert second-and-medium or third-and-short situations. They do this by rushing up the gut on first and second down and staying on schedule. When they do it well, their offense controls the game; when they don’t, their offense sputters and they are forced to rely on their defense. Therefore, if the Eagles can successfully rush between the tackles then the Panthers are in for a long day.
One Bold Prediction: Cam Newton will score on the ground and through the air.
In two of the three games that Newton has faced Philadelphia, he has scored through the air and on the ground. Both of those games ended in wins while the other ended in a loss.
