The Panthers, who still have a winning record no matter what talk radio will tell you about how terrible the team is, travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots this weekend. While the Panthers admittedly played poorly, they truly beat themselves last Sunday against the Saints. If they can eliminate the mental mistakes and play to the best of their ability, this game will be a lot closer than the pundits are thinking.
Five Panthers we have questions about:
#41 Captain Munnerlyn, Cornerback
After only seeing 11 snaps last week, will he see the field more against the Patriots or will Shaq Thompson continue to take those snaps? If he does see the field more, will he be able to make an impact? Will he play on the outside now that Daryl Worley has been ruled out or will that role go to Kevon Seymour?
#27 Kevon Seymour, Cornerback
Can he step up and replace Daryl Worley? Will the Patriots target him early and often? Does he have a good enough handle on the defensive scheme? Can he utilizes his speed and ability to diagnose plays to make a real impact?
#22 Christian McCaffrey, Running Back
After posting 101 yards receiving against the Saints can he replicate his success against the Patriots? Will he see more carries after only seeing four in Week 3? Is he headed for a true receiver role with Olsen out and Samuel a scratch? Will the Patriots key in on McCaffrey creating openings for other players?
#95 Charles Johnson, Defensive End
Can he get back into form? Will he lose snaps to Wes Horton? Will we see him drop into coverage more in order to allow players like Peppers and Addison to rush the passer or will it be the other way around? Can he handle the Patriots running backs in coverage? Will he finally have a positive impact after disappointing the last three weeks?
#17 Devin Funchess, Wide Receiver
With Samuel ruled out and Benjamin likely hampered with a hamstring injury is this the week that Funchess becomes the top receiver in Carolina? Will Funchess be able to carry the passing game or will Russell Shepard step up and take over? Can Funchess and Newton connect like Benjamin and Newton?
Four important matchups:
Luke Kuechly vs. Tom Brady
Two QBs matching wits
Once again, we find Kuechly facing off against a great quarterback and once again, Kuechly will need to win it in order for his defense to make an impact. Keuchly will have to diagnose plays quickly and get his men in the right position or Brady will shred the Panthers defense. If Kuechly can win the mental game and keep Brady guessing, the defense will be in a position to create opportunities for the offense.
Julius Peppers vs Nate Solder
Solder has not had a great start to the season and Peppers is in a good position to exploit this. If Peppers can keep Solder on his heels and pressure Brady frequently then Steve Wilks’ job gets easier and his fellow defenders will have a much easier night. On the flip side, if Peppers can’t consistently beat Solder then the pressure will be on the rest of the defensive front to make an impact.
Thomas Davis vs Rob Gronkowski
While this isn’t Davis versus Jimmy Graham, it has a lot of the same elements. It will be imperative that Davis keeps Gronkowski in check or else the Panthers defense could be in for a long night.
Ladarius Gunter vs Kevon Seymour
The two have combined for three snaps so far this season, but one of them will have to step up with Daryl Worley out. While Seymour will have first shot on Sunday, don’t count Gunter out due to his size. It will be imperative that these two push each other and try to make an impact on Sunday because in all likelihood they will be targeted frequently by Tom Brady.
Three things the Panthers need to do to win:
Find their rhythm
If the Panthers can find their groove as a team then they can win this matchup. If the offense can create a more natural flow and keep the ball moving, Tom Brady will be on the bench and the offense will finally create value for the Panthers. Christian McCaffrey, Kelvin Benjamin, Jonathan Stewart, Devin Funchess, Russell Shepard and Cam Newton create a group of players that should be able to put up points frequently and if they can start to roll then there isn’t a defense in the league that can stop the group.
Get creative
Both sides of the ball will need to be creative against the Patriots. The defense will need to disguise coverages, blitz from all over the field and keep Brady and the run game in check. The offense needs to find creative ways to exploit the mismatches that their personnel create. If both sides of the ball can play with a little creativity then the Panthers will be in a position to knock off the reigning league champs.
Get back to playing disciplined
Against the Saints, the team looked undisciplined and downright sloppy. Defenders were over aggressive, bit on play fakes they had no business biting on and simply didn’t seem prepared. They need to get back to disciplined football, wrap up when tackling, fill gaps correctly, keep the Patriots in front of them and above all identify play-action quickly.
Two reasons they will lose:
The Patriots rushing game gets going
If the Patriots run game can get moving, the Panthers defense will be in a precarious position that will likely end in a loss. When they are successful rushing the football, defenses bring an extra man into the box which the Patriots then exploit by taking deep shots or spreading the field and forcing the defense into an accordian-like situation.
The offense can’t find a rhythm
If the offense can’t find a rhythm, it may not matter how well the defense performs. Much like last week, the Panthers will need to put points on the board and keep the Patriots offense off the field if they are going to win. In order to do so, they will need to gel as a unit and capitalize on drives. If they don’t put up 21 points, they aren’t going to win.
One Bold Prediction: Newton totals 300 yards against the Patriots
Newton accounted for 271 of the teams’ total yards in 2013. I think he gets past that on Sunday.
