Ron Rivera and the Panthers have historically not fared well when coming off a bye, with last year’s 30-20 victory over the Cardinals lifting Rivera’s record to 2-4 after taking the week off, but if the Panthers are going to lock down a playoff spot, they may not be able to afford to drop any games over the final six weeks of the season. With that in mind, this article will examine how the Panthers match up against their final six opponents and what are likely to be the deciding battles, plus we will attempt to predict the Panthers’ final record.
New York Jets
Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The Jets have managed to surprise some people this season, as they were expected to be one of the teams fighting over the first overall pick but currently sit just below .500 more than halfway through the season. With that said, the Panthers should expect to come back from New York with a win. The Jets offensive line is one of the worst in football, having already surrendered over thirty sacks this season, and this lack of consistency up front has struggled to create consistent yardage on the ground for either Bilal Powell or Matt Forte.
This doesn’t mean that the Jets should be completely dismissed on offense; Josh McCown is at least serviceable as an NFL quarterback and has a number of receivers who can make plays when given the chance. All in all, the Panthers defense should be able to shut down their running game and force McCown to throw the ball down the field, especially if the Panthers can build a lead on offense as they did on Monday Night Football against Miami.
Defensively, the Jets are decent, though there is still hope for the Panthers offense. While Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson have played quite well, the 3-4 scheme still relies heavily on blitzes to generate pressure. Combine this with mediocre corner play and inexperienced safeties and Cam should be able to create big plays against the blitz.
Prediction: Relatively Comfortable Win
Saints
There is a reason why the Saints are being talked about as serious Super Bowl contenders; they are top three in both offense and defense and just embarrassed the Bills in Buffalo. With the Panthers already having lost to the Saints this season in Charlotte, the tide would certainly look to be in the Saints’ favor; with that said, there are at least some reasons for hope.
The Panthers run game is suddenly looking up with over 200 yards in each of the past two games. While the Saints defense has been excellent against the pass this season, they have struggled against the run; this was evident in the Panthers loss to the Saints where, despite losing the game, the Panthers were able to put up 132 yards and a touchdown while averaging six yards per carry on the ground. If the Panthers are able to run the ball in this way in New Orleans, they have a good chance of staying ahead of the sticks and putting up some points.
Offensively, the Saints are a hard team to contain. They can run the ball very well and Drew Brees is excellent at getting the ball out quickly to pick apart a defense. With that being said, the Panthers’ defense is still number one in the league and can feel aggrieved at having let the Saints off the hook repeatedly on long third downs during their first meeting. With that in mind, the Panthers will need their pass rush to step up for them to hold New Orleans in check.
Prediction: Close Loss
Vikings
It is no secret that the Vikings have one of the better defenses in the NFL. They are good against both the run and the pass and have the speed to give offenses fits. If the Panthers are going to put points up against this unit, they are going to have to avoid getting behind the chains, where the Vikings pass rush can be extremely effective.
In order to do this, the Panthers might well have to lean heavily on their newly-found running game. The issue against the Vikings is that their speed at defensive end and linebacker matches up well against the Panthers read-option and perimeter running games. While the Panthers’ offensive line has looked better in recent weeks, this could well be a line-them-up-and-knock-them-down test for the group as a downhill running game is one of the few chinks in the Vikings’ armor defensively.
Offensively, the Vikings hardly inspire fear into opponents, at least not since losing rookie Dalvin Cook to injury earlier this season. Jerick McKinnon has made some nice plays in a rotation role but free agent signing Latavius Murray has struggled to get anything going behind a questionable Vikings offensive line. While Case Keenum had a notable day throwing the ball last weekend and the duo of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs is quickly becoming one of the most feared in the NFL, the Vikings passing offense still lacks significant bite. If the Panthers can limit the Vikings on the ground, hey have every chance of forcing Keenum to make plays that, quite frankly, he has failed to show that he is capable of making with any consistency.
Prediction: Close Win
Packers
Photo: Jon Durr/Getty Images
Any time a team loses the best pure passer in the NFL, they are likely to experience somewhat of a setback offensively, and the Packers have been no exception. While Brett Hundley is a decent quarterback, Aaron Rodgers’ absence has further exposed a lack of surrounding talent on the Packers’ offense; especially on the offensive line. If the Panthers’ defense can continue to play at their current high level then the Packers offense should pose little threat, especially if they can hold rookie running back Aaron Jones in check.
Defensively, the Packers have done a good job against the run, holding players to under four yards a carry; but have struggled against the pass. Nick Perry is the only Packers player to have three or more sacks this season and this inability to get pressure has allowed opponents to pick the Packers’ secondary apart. If the Panthers’ offensive line can give Cam time to throw, then this defense can be exploited through the air.
Prediction: Relatively Comfortable Win
Buccaneers
The major question hanging over this game is whether or not Jameis Winston will be healthy enough to play; even if he is, will his off-the-field issues may keep him out of uniform. While Winston hasn’t played incredibly well so far this season, his ability to push the ball down the field does add another dimension to the Bucs’ offense, and his availability should be seen as a major factor in the Panthers’ preparation for this game. With that said, the Buccaneers offense has been poor this season, even with Winston on the field.
Much of this struggle comes back to their offensive line, which has failed to do much in the run game and has been porous in the passing game; the Panthers’ continued ability to hold the Bucs behind the chains and then pressure Winston on third down during their meeting in Week 8 should be a good indication of how this game may unfold when the Panthers don’t have the ball.
Defensively, the Buccaneers have been a mixed bag; playing well against the run but struggling against the pass. This doesn’t match up hugely well against the Panthers offense, moving on from Kelvin Benjamin and Curtis Samuel’s loss to an ankle injury could well be a significant factor in this game. The Bucs corners have struggled with faster receivers, and if the Panthers can use either Clay or Byrd to create matchup advantages then they have a good chance of having a strong day through the air.
Prediction: Relatively Comfortable Win
Falcons
The Falcons’ offense might not be the all-conquering force from a season ago, but it is still one of the best units in the NFL. Matt Ryan continues to be effective at moving the ball around, Julio Jones is still the best receiver in football, and their running game is averaging a combined 4.5 yards per carry. Stopping this unit will be no easy task for the Panthers defense, but they should look to their first meeting as a guide to how to have some success in Week 17.
The Panthers major success in that game came from their ability to stuff the Falcons running game, as they were able to hold them under three yards per carry for the game. By forcing the Falcons into longer third downs, they were then able to generate pressure and to force Matt Ryan into mistakes.
Defensively, the Falcons have been far less impressive. While they haven’t been scorched through the air they have struggled to stop the run and have only forced four turnovers all season (two of which were against the Panthers). If the Panthers can avoid turning the ball over in the way they did early-on in the first encounter, they will have a chance to move the ball with some consistency. Even if the Falcons are not fighting for a playoff spot, you can bet that they will be just as content to knock the Panthers out of one in the last week of the season.
Prediction: Toss-Up
Based on this, the Panthers should finish with either an 11-5 or 12-4 record, likely making them the fifth seed in the NFC. While that will likely make for a harder journey to the Super Bowl, this team does have a chance of going 13-3, which would likely make them the second seed with a first-round bye. What is for certain, however, is that this season the Panthers should be in the hunt right to the end, as they appear to be peaking at just the right time.
