Norris Thornburg

A Look Ahead: Redskins

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Panthers
VS
Redskins
1:00

That was a hard fought game, but the Panthers came up short. Or should I say, they came up wide right. Kyle Allen had a good game, as he does in domes, and he put them in position to win. However, the defense looked lost at times and kicker Joey Slye left a few points on the field. Let’s move on from New Orleans. This is a look ahead to the Redskins:

Washington Redskins

Head Coach (Interim)

Bill Callahan

Offensive Coordinator 

Kevin O’Connell

Defensive Coordinator

Greg Manusky

Key Acquisitions 

S Landon Collins

QB Case Keenum

OT Ereck Flowers

OT Donald Penn

Key Losses

OT Trent Williams

TE Jordan Reed

LB Reuben Foster

Key Draft Picks

QB Dwayne Haskins

LB Montez Sweat

WR Terry McLaurin

The Redskins have struggled this year in nearly every area. They started rookie quarterback, Dwayne Haskins, last week and got their second win of the season. Washington had minimal roster turnover and had a decent draft. Wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, was a surprise breakout star. While the Redskins’ record isn’t great, it’s not a team that Carolina should take lightly.

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach

Ron Rivera

Offensive Coordinator

Norv Turner

Defensive Coordinator

Eric Washington

Key Acquisitions

C Matt Paradis

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Javien Elliott

WR Chris Hogan

DT Gerald McCoy

S Tre Boston

K Joey Slye

Key Losses

QB Cam Newton (IR)

DE/DT Kawann Short (IR)

DT/NT Dontari Poe (IR)

LG Greg Van Roten (IR)

K Graham Gano (IR)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

The Panthers have put five starters on injured reserve this year. Dontari Poe and Greg Van Roten were placed on IR this week after both were hurt in the game against the Saints. That puts a huge hole in both the offensive and defensive lines. Neither of the lines have played well all year, but both players have been two of the most consistent on their side of the ball. Carolina could struggle to stop Darrius Guice and Adrian Peterson on Sunday, which isn’t really that different from every week. However, it’s important to keep the faith!

2019 Team Stats

Panthers

Redskins
19th– 347.0 yds/gm
Total Offense
32nd– 253.4 yds/gm
21st– 221.5 yds/gm
Pass Offense
32nd– 167.5 yds/gm
9th– 125.5 yds/gm
Rush Offense
27th– 85.9 yds/gm
12th– 23.5 ppg
Scoring Offense
32nd– 13.1 ppg
19th– 367.1 yds/gm
Total Defense
22nd– 369.0 yds/gm
18th– 239.6 yds/gm
Pass Defense
11th– 231.4 yds/gm
27th– 127.5 yds/gm
Rush Defense
28th– 137.6 yds/gm
26th– 26.5 ppg
Points Allowed
23rd– 24.5 ppg

Things to Watch

Carolina

Kyle Allen played like an absolute stud on Sunday and went toe to toe with Drew Brees. It was his best game since week three against Arizona. Hopefully, he can have the same magic against the 11th ranked pass defense of the Redskins. Allen will look to his number one receiver DJ Moore, once again, to make plays and get yards after catch. Allen will look to get some short passes to gain some confidence early in the game.

Christian McCaffrey has been dominant this year, and Sunday was no exception. He had 133 total yards and 2 touchdowns, as the Panthers fell just short (or wide right) of the win. The Redskins have the 28th ranked rush defense, so it is imperative to get CMC going on the ground early. Carolina will likely use some misdirection plays on Sunday to keep the defense guessing. He should have a very big game against the Redskins.

DJ Moore is having a really good season and probably isn’t getting the recognition he deserves. He is currently fifth in receiving yardage with 905, and he’s on pace for 1,316 yards for the year. Curtis Samuel is having a somewhat disappointing year compared to the expectations that fans had for him coming out of training camp. Some of this is because Allen isn’t seeing him or he doesn’t have time to go through his progressions. Now, Carolina is using him more in the run game as an added wrinkle. Samuel is actually open a lot, but Allen rarely gets to look his way. Olsen is also getting open a lot, but Allen can’t find him either. Look for Carolina to run a lot of short ins and slants against this Redskin defense and let the receivers get yardage after the catch.

The Panthers’ defense hasn’t been the same since Kawann Short was placed on injured reserve on October 1st, as they haven’t been able to stop the run. The loss of Dontari Poe will be even more problematic for the defense, especially against the run. If the Panthers want to make a run, they’re going to have to step it up defensively, and the Redskins game is the perfect time to start. Washington has a rookie quarterback that has thrown 6 interceptions, had 3 fumbles and has been sacked 17 times in five games. Carolina will continue to give rookie, Brian Burns, more reps, as he seems to be over his wrist injury. The Panthers will look to pressure Haskins and cause him to make mistakes. They’ll need to focus on Adrian Peterson and Darrius Guice in the running game, and make Haskins beat them with his arm.

Washington

Dwayne Haskins hasn’t had a great start to his NFL career. It’s not all his fault, as he really has no help from his supporting cast. However, they’re coming off of their second win of the season and they’ll have a little confidence built up. If Carolina puts the heat on Haskins, he won’t be able to complete many passes, as he has only completed 32% of passes when pressured. The Redskin offensive line is ranked 30th in pass protection, so it could be a long day for the rookie quarterback.

Adrian Peterson has been one of the best running backs in the NFL for years. At age 34, he has 543 yards on the season and is averaging 4.1 yards per carry. He would have more yards if Washington didn’t give up on the running game every week due to being so far behind. Plus, he’s now sharing carries with Darrius Guice, who returned to action two weeks ago after being injured in week one. This could be a very good game for both backs, as Carolina has struggled to stop the run all year. If Washington’s defense can somehow stop Carolina, the Redskins will likely be able to run all over them.

Rookie, Terry McLaurin, has been a surprise at receiver for the Redskins. He was picked in the third round of the draft, and has played like a first rounder. He runs a 4.35 40 yard dash, so Jackson and Bradberry will have their hands full. He lines up all over the field, so he’s going to get some chances to make plays on Sunday. That’s if his quarterback can get him the ball.

The Washington defense is similar to Carolina, as they are both bad at stopping the run. McCaffrey should have a field day against this defense. The Washington pass defense is fourth in the league in interceptions, as they have 12 on the season. They have 29 sacks this year, which is good enough for 15th. With the way the Panthers’ offensive line has shuffled around this year, the Redskins’ defense could get a lot of pressure Sunday. Look for Washington to disguise a lot of coverages to confuse the young quarterback, Kyle Allen. It might be hard to get pressure with Ryan Kerrigan out, though.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Run the ball early and often. Get McCaffrey going. He’s a volume runner. Give him the ball. He should be able to do work against this defense.

• Get in Haskins’ face. He will make mistakes if pressured.

• Protect the ball. No turnovers!

• Contain Adrian Peterson.

• Maintain gap discipline on defense.

• Utilize McCaffrey heavily one the passing game.

• Double team McLaurin. They really don’t have any other reliable receivers.

• Allen needs to read the defense faster. Allen has been a one read quarterback for most of the season, but he needs to go through his progressions just a little faster.

Key Matchups

• McCaffrey VS Redskins defensive line

• Samuel/Moore VS Washington secondary

• Bradberry VS McLaurin

• Carolina’s pass rush VS Haskins

• Peterson VS Carolina’s defensive line

• Olsen VS Washington linebackers

• Carolina offensive line VS Washington defensive line

Injury Report

Carolina

Greg Little DOUBTFUL

Washington

Paul Richardson OUT

Ryan Kerrigan OUT

Chris Thompson QUESTIONABLE

Washington comes to Charlotte without one of their best pass rushers and their second best wide receiver. Carolina will likely be without left tackle, Greg Little, once again. Another hit to the struggling offensive line.

Prediction

Washington just isn’t a very good football team. They’re struggling in nearly every facet of the game, so surely the Panthers won’t lose at home, right? The Panthers will win this game convincingly, 34-17. McCaffrey will have 195 total yards and 2 touchdowns. Allen will have another good game, as he will throw for around 275 yards and 2 touchdowns. Go Panthers!!

 

A Look Ahead: Saints

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris


Never had a chance. Falcons have had our number over the last four years. Our defense finally figured out how to stop the run, but our pass defense stumbled. Kyle Allen’s turnovers killed drives and led to Atlanta points. This whole team crumbled. However, the Panthers still control their destiny, so Panther Nation needs to keep the faith. Moving on…..Here is a look ahead to the Saints:

New Orleans Saints

Head Coach

Sean Payton

Offensive Coordinator 

Pete Carmichael

Defensive Coordinator

Dennis Allen

Key Acquisitions 

TE Jared Cook

RB Latavius Murray

Key Losses

S Kurt Coleman

C Max Unger

Key Draft Picks

C Erik McCoy

S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

The Saints had very little turnover from last year and remain one of the top teams in the NFL. Getting Erik McCoy at pick 48 was a steal, as he is a first round talent. Speaking of steals, the Saints drafted Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round and he has played really well for them. He’s a player that most of Panther Nation wanted at pick 100 instead of Will Grier.

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach

Ron Rivera

Offensive Coordinator

Norv Turner

Defensive Coordinator

Eric Washington

Key Acquisitions

C Matt Paradis

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Javien Elliott

WR Chris Hogan

DT Gerald McCoy

S Tre Boston

K Joey Slye

Key Losses

QB Cam Newton (IR)

DE/DT Kawann Short (IR)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

With Daley out on Sunday, Greg Little got the start at left tackle. He struggled most of the day, as he gave up 14 pressures and 2 sacks on the day. After being out 8 weeks for a concussion, it’s understandable. Brian Burns was on the field doing work, as he was the highest graded defensive player on Sunday. Problem is, he only played 16 snaps due to him still being in a cast. Tre Boston had his best game of the year, as he looked like the player we all hoped he’d be in his return.

Things to Watch

Carolina

Kyle Allen had another bad game, reminiscent of the 49ers debacle. Allen is young and will make mistakes. He looked completely shell-shocked on the field Sunday. The offensive line didn’t help, as they all looked bad. However, even in a clean pocket, Allen struggled to find open receivers. The turnovers were drive killers, especially the 2 interceptions in the red zone. The coaching staff will try to put Allen in a better spot this weekend against a red hot Saints team. They’ll look to get Kyle’s confidence up by utilizing McCaffrey and Olsen in the passing game early on some short passes. Moore will also continue to be his security blanket. Allen will need a perfect game to have a chance against the Saints. The offensive line needs to do their job up front. Everyone knows the key to success starts in the trenches. With Marshon Lattimore out, Allen needs to go after back-up Patrick Robinson.

Christian McCaffrey continues his stellar play (go vote for him to earn a trip to the pro bowl), as he had 70 rushing yards and 121 receiving yards. McCaffrey will again be used early and often in both the rushing and passing attacks. The Saints have the 3rd ranked rush defense, as they are only allowing an average of 85.3 yards per game. They haven’t played against McCaffrey this year, so get your popcorn ready. He will get going early in establishing the run. The only way to beat the Saints is to have a balanced offensive attack and make zero mistakes.

DJ Moore added 95 yards to his already impressive season. He’s currently on pace for 99 catches and 1,246 yards. He continues to be Kyle Allen’s security blanket each and every week. Curtis Samuel has taken a hit, with Moore becoming a number one receiver. Samuel is open on a high percentage of plays, but Allen has either panicked and tried to force it elsewhere before the play developed, or just didn’t even look his way. Look for a lot of short, quick routes so that Allen can (hopefully) get the ball out fast. It’s imperative that he do so, as the offensive line has had some struggles.

The Carolina defense played well against the run, but were absolutely blasted against the pass. Granted, without the costly turnovers, this game could’ve went a lot different. The Saints have one of the best quarterbacks in the league, along with one of the best running backs and the best wide receiver. Drew Brees gets the ball out extremely quick, so the likelihood of the defense sacking him isn’t great. Hopefully the secondary can get back to their good coverage this week and the line can get some coverage sacks. They have to keep an eye on Kamara, as he is heavily used in the passing game. It’s going to be tough, but it’s possible. Carolina will try to disguise some of their coverages, and put some pressure on Brees. They need to contain Kamara and knock Thomas off his routes. Easier said than done. Side note: In the last two games against the Panthers, Michael Thomas has a combined 12 catches for 78 yards. Bradberry needs to continue his elite covering of Thomas. New Orleans’ left guard is out, so Carolina should be able to get pressure through the middle of the line.

New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees is one of the best. He rarely makes mistakes and gets the ball out quick. While age is catching up with Brees, he is still one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league. Brees completes 50% of his passes while pressured, which is good for third in the NFL. In a clean pocket, he completes 82.3% of his passes, which is good enough for second in the NFL. He’s been really good at converting third downs in games he’s played. There’s not much you can do to knock him off of his game, but if Carolina can somehow contain Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, watch out.

Alvin Kamara is a dynamic running back who is used in the passing game. He will be heavily used, early and often. He could get a lot of yards on the ground if Carolina reverts back to its ways of not stopping the run. Latavius Murray gives the Saints another experienced back for a balanced rushing attack. Carolina will need to contain these two if they want to win.

Michael Thomas is the best wide receiver in the NFL. He’s on pace for 150 catches, 1,825 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Saints have Jared Cook at tight end, who has 3 touchdowns in his last four games. New Orleans does a good job at finding the open field in zone coverage, so that could give Carolina some problems.

The Saints’ defense has stepped it up this year, as they are the sixth in total defense. They only allow 318.3 yards per game. This will be a tough defense for Carolina to navigate through, so Allen better be ready. Cam Jordan is having quite a year, as he has 9.5 sacks and a monstrous 34 pressures this season. Jordan will be going against Taylor Moton, who has had a rough last couple weeks.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Run the ball early and often. Get McCaffrey going. He’s a volume runner. Give him the ball.

• Get in Brees’ face. He’s still good under pressure, but every little bit helps.

• Protect the ball. No turnovers!

• Contain Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray.

• Maintain gap discipline on defense.

• Utilize McCaffrey heavily one the passing game.

• Neutralize Michael Thomas. Bradberry needs to continue winning this matchup as he did both games last year.

• Allen needs to read the defense faster. Allen has been a one read quarterback for most of the season, but he needs to go through his progressions just a little faster.

Key Matchups

• McCaffrey VS Saints defensive line

• Samuel/Moore VS Saints secondary

• Bradberry VS Thomas

• Carolina’s pass rush VS Brees

• Kamara/Murray VS Carolina’s defensive line

• Olsen VS AJ Klein

• Carolina offensive line VS New Orleans’ defensive line

Injury Report

Carolina

Ross Cockrell OUT

New Orleans 

Marshon Lattimore OUT

Andrus Peat OUT

Zach Line OUT

Deonte Harris OUT

New Orleans takes a hit on both sides of the ball, as their left guard and star defensive back have been ruled out. Hopefully Carolina can take advantage of that. Greg Little will get the start, with Dennis Daley backing him up. Hopefully Little will be back in playing shape this week after missing eight weeks to a concussion. He returned last week but struggled.

Prediction

The Saints are red hot this year. However, they’re not without their flaws. This will be a hard fought game between two division rivals. McCaffrey will have 215 total yards and 2 touchdowns, as he continues to dominate. DJ Moore will have 95 yards receiving. James Bradberry will limit Michael Thomas to 57 yards and no touchdowns, and have an interception. It’s very hard to play in New Orleans, but Carolina steals one this week, 31-30, as Joey Slye hits a game winning field goal.

3 Reasons Kyle Allen and 3 Reasons He isn’t

Prime Cuts with Norris


The Panthers have looked awful the past few weeks. The defense has been bad, the blocking has been spotty and the quarterback play has been less than average. Obviously there are a number of variables that go into wins and losses, but it all falls on number seven. After all, when the Panthers lost under Cam Newton, it was all his fault, according to a certain group of Panthers fans.

Allen has looked good at times, which is why he gained a fan club after his first win in Arizona. He made some throws in that game that made him appear as if he were a seasoned vet. The hot start literally divided an entire fan base, Cam fans versus Kyle fans. It was impossible for Carolina fans to just enjoy the wins. It always had to be Cam this and Kyle that. It remains to be seen if Kyle will be QB1 after this year, but here are three reasons he’s the answer, and three reasons he isn’t:

3 Reasons Allen is the Answer:

1. He’s young and still learning the offense.
Allen was an undrafted free agent when he landed into this spot. He wasn’t supposed to be here, but he is. At only 23 years old, he has learned an entire offense and is running it as best he can. His youth and inexperience will cause him to make mistakes along the way, but it’s important for him to grow within this offense and have growing pains now.

2. He doesn’t seem to let things bother him.
Allen has made his fair share of mistakes, as he has five fumbles lost and nine interceptions. That’s a lot. Especially when you consider that all nine interceptions came in a four game span. Again, he’s young. It happens to the best quarterbacks. When he makes these mistakes, he seems to brush it off and not let it bother him. Resiliency is huge in the NFL. You have to have a short memory, and apparently he has one.

3. He makes certain throws that Cam Newton doesn’t.
Not throwing shade at Cam whatsoever, because everyone knows I love Cam. However, Allen has touch on certain throws that Cam has never had. Every player has deficiencies, and that’s ok. Allen has shown the ability to drop the ball into the receivers hands in stride, when he has a clean pocket.

3 Reasons Allen is not the Answer:

1. He is a turnover machine.
In eight games, Allen has 14 turnovers (5 lost fumbles and 9 interceptions). All 9 of those interceptions came in the last four games. When Allen gets pressured, he’s reckless with the ball. With every turnover, you can see the team become more deflated than a ball in New England on a Sunday afternoon. Turnovers directly affect the defense too. The defense doesn’t get enough rest when the offense turns the ball over, so they’re winded while on the field. Turnovers suck the wind out of the entire team.

2. He has terrible deep ball accuracy.
Prior to the Falcons game, Allen was completing 22.2% of his deep ball passes, which was bad enough to put him as the 32nd best NFL quarterback. When you have a speedster like Curtis Samuel, that’s terrible. He just can’t throw downfield. Even Cam with a bum shoulder had a better deep pass percentage last year (31.7%). He has to do better on those passes. Yes, the offensive line struggled at times, but even in a clean pocket his percentage is low (71.6%, 29th best in the league).

3. He’s bad when under pressure and not great from a clean pocket.
Some of this is his age and experience, while some is just terrible decision making. His 31% completion while being pressured is good enough for 26th in the league and his 71.6% completion in a clean pocket is good enough for 29th in the league. Basically, he’s near the bottom of the league in every metric for quarterbacks.

Keep in mind, Allen is definitely young and inexperienced. There’s a lot more football yet to be played, and it would be nice to see Allen grow each week. Once left tackle Dennis Daley gets back from injury, Allen’s blind side should once again be solid. Hopefully that will be soon, but who knows? One thing I do know is that we are stuck with Allen this season. Maybe he becomes starting quality, but maybe he doesn’t. He may not be Mr. Right, but he is Mr. Right Now.

A Look Ahead: Falcons

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Atlanta Falcons
at
Carolina Panthers
1:00

Well, this was a winnable game, but costly mistakes hurt us. Rumor has it, Aaron Jones is still running through our defense. Kyle Allen made some mistakes, but showed poise in the face of adversity. In snowy conditions, Allen and company orchestrated a drive that almost gave them an opportunity to tie the game. There are no moral victories, but this loss hurts a little less because our boys fought hard. No time to let this loss affect us. Here’s a look ahead to the Falcons:

Atlanta Falcons

Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator 

Dan Quinn

Offensive Coordinator 

Dirk Koetter

Key Acquisitions 

DE Adrian Clayborn

DT Allen Bailey

S Jonathan Cyprien

Key Losses

S Keanu Neal (IR)

S Jonathan Cyprien (IR)

WR Muhammed Sanu (Traded)

CB Justin Bethel

RB Tevin Coleman

RB Ito Smith (IR)

Key Draft Picks

G Chris Lindstrom

OT Kaleb McGary

The Falcons lost some key players in the offseason, and they’re hurting on both sides of the ball. They still have some dynamic playmakers on the team. Their record is 2-7, but they just put together their most complete game of the year to beat the red hot Saints.

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach

Ron Rivera

Offensive Coordinator

Norv Turner

Defensive Coordinator

Eric Washington

Key Acquisitions

C Matt Paradis

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Javien Elliott

WR Chris Hogan

DT Gerald McCoy

S Tre Boston

K Joey Slye

Key Losses

QB Cam Newton (IR)

DE/DT Kawann Short (IR)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

Just an inch and a two point conversion short of tying. Carolina is 5-4 and will need to make up some serious ground if they want to make the playoffs. They also need to keep the opposition from gaining serious ground, as they continue to let teams run all over them. It’s definitely fixable, so hopefully they can get better. Atlanta is coming to town and it looks like they’ll be without their starting running back, Devonte Freeman, which is good news for Carolina. The Panthers would love nothing more to take the win at home against a division rival, and they can do it if they limit their mistakes.

Things to Watch

Carolina

Kyle Allen played fairly well in Green Bay, but struggled early. The two turnovers proved costly, as the Packers turned them into points. Kyle’s confidence and poise are impressive, as he doesn’t let things affect him. This week, Allen will be playing against the 25th ranked pass defense. He will need to bring his A-game against Atlanta, as will the rest of the team. Atlanta has struggled to limit chunk plays all season, so Allen will look to get the ball to Moore or Samuel down field. Greg Little is finally out of the concussion protocol, and he will be playing Sunday. This is good news for an offensive line that struggled at times Sunday, after Dennis Daley went down with an injury.

Christian McCaffrey has 141 total yards and a touchdown Sunday in Green Bay. He continues to be the workhorse. He will continue to get carries early and often against a Falcons defense that ranks 20th in rush defense. This will be a run heavy game against a division opponent.

DJ Moore is putting together a solid season, as he is currently on pace for 1,216 yards. If he succeeds in going over 1,000 yards, he would be the first Panthers wide receiver to do that since Kelvin Benjamin in 2014. Tight end Greg Olsen has three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons from 2014-2016. Moore and Samuel are becoming a very formidable receiving duo. Samuel is more of the long ball receiver, and Moore gets a lot of short to intermediate throws, while getting a lot of yards after the catch. Moore, Samuel and Olsen look to have big games against a struggling Falcons pass defense that ranks 25th in the league.

Boy, the Carolina defense really knows how to give big lanes to opposing running backs. The team really needs to work on their gap discipline if they want to be an elite defense. I believe this is the week they get it together. The Falcons come to Charlotte averaging only 76.8 yards per carry, and their top two running backs are out. As is their tight end, Austin Hooper, which is a huge loss for the Atlanta offense. I’m confident that the team will get it together Sunday. Especially with James Bradberry returning to cover Julio Jones. The key to winning for the Panthers defense is to get to Ryan as much as possible and force into mistakes.

Atlanta Falcons 

Matt Ryan has been pretty solid in the games he’s played this year. He has a really good pair of receivers in Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Ryan will look to take advantage of our hurt secondary if Donte Jackson doesn’t play. This is a divisional game, so it’s going to be hard fought, no matter what team has been depleted because of injuries.

Devonte Freeman is out this week, but Brian Hill is a solid running back. If the Carolina defense doesn’t maintain their gap discipline, he has the ability to break off long runs and get first downs. Hill gashed Carolina last year for 115 yards on just 8 carries. The Carolina defense better not take him lightly.

Everyone knows Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley are a solid receiving duo, but the tight end, Austin Hooper has become an elite option for Ryan before his injury. The loss of Austin Hooper is huge to the offense, as he was on pace for 104 catches, 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Carolina secondary will have their hands full. Hopefully Bradberry’s injury won’t hinder him too much against Jones, as JB is usually pretty good at stopping Julio.

The Falcons defense has been pretty bad all year, with the exception of last week. They’re 23rd in total defense, 25th against the pass and 20th against the run. If the Falcons defense wants to win this game, the key is to pressure Allen and try to limit McCaffrey.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Run the ball early and often.

• Pressure Ryan. Charles Johnson once said that Ryan was his favorite QB to sack. Let’s hope our other defenders make him proud.

• Protect the ball. No turnovers!

• Contain Brian Hill.

• Maintain gap discipline on defense.

• Utilize McCaffrey and Bonnafon (when needed) in the passing game.

• Neutralize Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.

Key Matchups

• McCaffrey VS Falcons defensive line

• Samuel/Moore VS Falcons secondary

• Carolina’s pass rush VS Ryan

• Brian Hill VS Carolina’s defensive line

• Carolina offensive line VS Atlanta’s defensive line

Injury Report

Carolina

Ross Cockrell OUT

Dennis Daley DOUBTFUL

Atlanta

Devonte Freeman OUT

Austin Hooper OUT

Kemal Ishmael OUT

Atlanta took a hit with Freeman and Hooper out. Carolina comes in relatively healthy. The loss of Daley is canceled out by the addition of Greg Little, who will finally make an appearance after passing the concussion protocol.

Prediction

This is a huge game for Carolina, who cannot make the playoffs without winning games they SHOULD win. The Carolina defense will need to step up their game if they want to hold off the Falcons at home. The Panthers will have 7 sacks on Ryan and intercept him twice, McCaffrey will have 190 total yards and 2 touchdowns, Kyle Allen will have 275 yards and 2 touchdowns and DJ Moore will have 102 yards and a touchdown. Carolina wins 31-20. Go Panthers!

Is Cam Done in Carolina?

Prime Cuts with Norris

Is Cam Newton done in Carolina? This is a topic that has been discussed at nauseam for the past two months. When Cam was placed on injured reserve, it seemed to cause a media frenzy. Everyone with a computer seemed to type up an article about how Cam has played his last game as a Panther.

Truth is, how would anyone know? The Carolina front office doesn’t even know what will happen. Mainly because it is hinged on whether or not Newton can come back 100% healthy. A healthy Cam Newton is still dynamic in the Carolina offense, based on his stats prior to his injury last season.

Even Ian Rapoport has discussed, at length, the future of Cam Newton. He’s said on numerous occasions that Cam is likely done in Carolina and that he would be open to a trade. Ian Rapoport has been wrong before. Most recently, Rapoport said that Antonio Brown to the Bills was a done deal. He, and Adam Schefter, have both been wrong several times before. They’re in the media. It’s their job to take a lead and run with it. Sometimes they make stories even if the sources aren’t reliable. Bottom line is, they’re not always right, and things happen. Situations change. Cam could’ve been asked if he would be open to a trade if Carolina didn’t want him anymore. Of course he’s going to say yes. It’s all about context, and we don’t know exactly what was said.

Marty Hurney, Ron Rivera and David Tepper have a lot to think about after this season. Luckily for them, the Panthers’ fan base isn’t involved in the decision making. Cam’s injury has some fans bashing him to no end. Some fans act as if they really can’t tell the difference between a diminishing player and an injured player. Some people act as if Cam has been bad his entire career. They act as if Cam has had an elite offensive line and tons of weapons at his disposal, but still failed the team.

Does it make sense to trade Cam Newton? Yes, it makes some sense. Does it make sense to keep him around? Absolutely. There’s an argument for both sides. On one hand, Cam is owed a lot of money and has been hurt for the past year and a half. Kyle Allen is 5-2 as a starter and seems to be getting better each week. The Panthers have a lot of players in the last year of their contracts and need to free some money to sign them.

On the other hand, it’s hard to find a franchise quarterback in the NFL. $19 million is low for a franchise quarterback, especially a former MVP. Kyle Allen, while he is winning games, is near the bottom in every meaningful stat for a quarterback. He’s far too young to tell whether or not he’s the heir apparent to Cam, but it doesn’t look like it right now. If Carolina traded Cam, would they get what a healthy Cam Newton is worth? What players could Carolina sign with the $19 million that would be as impactful as a healthy Cam? Carolina is slated to have around $43 million in cap space this offseason, which includes the rollover from this season. That’s enough to sign all of it’s core players with money left over. They really don’t need the salary from Cam’s contract.

Again, both sides have legitimate arguments. In my personal opinion, it makes zero sense to get rid of Newton. Franchise quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. The media have written Cam out of Carolina because he’s “done” but then in the same breath, they’ll say why he would take the Bears to another level. It makes no sense. Cam Newton has put his body on the line each and every week for the team and fans. We owe him a chance to come back and show that he still has what it takes to lead this team. Cam has saved Rivera’s job so many times, and Rivera hasn’t forgotten.

Even owner, David Tepper, made a comment in January, “If you told me that he took a year off and could recover… and it took an extra year, why wouldn’t you do that?” Tepper knows that Newton is a once in a generation talent and he’s a force when healthy. Tepper is a smart business man, and I think he can see how a dip in attendance is synonymous with a Cam-less team. I think Cam will take the rest of the year off to heal, and come back stronger and healthier than he’s been in three years. I think he will bet on himself and play out that last year of his contract so that he can get signed to another deal. Whether it be here or elsewhere. You can say a lot of things about Cam, but you can’t say he is a quitter. You can’t say that he isn’t competitive. He will not give up. So I think he will be back next year as a Panther. That’s my opinion with zero inside influence.


Bottom line is, no one knows what will happen. Cam might not ever be healthy again. This is something that fans need to think about. Prepare yourselves for the worst, but hope for the best. No one knows what will happen with Cam Newton yet, so let’s stop writing him off. As of now, he’s under contract. He’s a Panther. If he doesn’t come back, it’ll be hard for most fans, but we need to rally around Allen (or whoever Carolina might bring in) and support the team. It’ll probably be a mistake for the Panthers to get rid of Newton, but we will have to accept it. If he does come back, fans need to thank Allen for all his help and support Cam. We are Panthers’ fans until death. Let’s act like it. Cam isn’t done yet. Neither is Allen. Let’s stop worrying about things that we can’t control, and support the team, as well as, both quarterbacks. Get well soon, Cam. Let’s get some more wins, Kyle. Keep pounding, fellas. 

Spoiler Alert: Kyle Allen is Not Cam Newton…

Prime Cuts with Norris


When Cam Newton went down with a foot injury in week 2, it seemed as though the Panthers were destined to be one of the league’s worst. In came Kyle Allen, who led the team to a 5-4 record, with a lot of help from Christian McCaffrey and the defense. While it has been fun winning, it also brought the Carolina fan base a new problem. It seemed like everyone wanted to have a Kyle versus Cam debate. Even analysts in sports media started comparing the two.

Spoiler alert: Kyle Allen is not Cam Newton….and that’s ok. There’s nothing wrong with that. Cam has been the Panthers’ franchise quarterback for nine years, so it’s easy to compare Allen to him. Which is unfair to not only Allen, but also Newton.

Allen has done well, all things considered. He’s certainly made the best of his opportunity, and seems to be improving each week. No, he isn’t perfect. Yes, he makes mistakes. The one thing you have to realize is, he’s basically a rookie. Not to mention, he’s trying to fill the shoes of the best quarterback in franchise history.

Comparing him to Cam is unfair, as they have a completely different skill set and they’re at different points in their respective careers. Allen is young and learning how to be a professional starter. He was an undrafted free agent who found a team to help mold him. He’s growing into his role and learning how to be a leader. He’s not doing the things that Cam does, but he’s doing what is asked.

Cam is a 30 year old former MVP, who is still a dynamic player when healthy. He was the number one pick in 2011 and burst onto the scene, breaking record after record. He’s led the Panthers to multiple division championships, as well as, a Super Bowl. Injuries have slowed him down the last two seasons. These things happen in the NFL. It doesn’t mean he’s injury prone. Thomas Davis tore his ACL three times, and he turned into one of the best linebackers that the Panthers ever had.

Allen and Newton are polar opposites, and they shouldn’t be compared. They both have their strengths, as well as their deficiencies. Cam is physically a freak of nature, Allen is a prototypical quarterback. Allen is more of a pocket passer, Cam can beat you with his legs and his arm. Allen has more touch on the intermediate throws, Cam has a rocket for an arm and rifles it to the receiver before the defense knows what hit them. Cam is more accurate on deep balls, Allen has better anticipation on intermediate routes. Allen isn’t going to kill anyone with his legs. He needs to improve a lot of his game. But he’s young. He will get there. It’s ok that they’re different. Allen is learning relatively quickly.

Cam could come back healthy and play again for the Panthers next season. However, we don’t need to worry about that. As a fan base, it’s important to enjoy the ride. We are, after all, Panthers fans. No matter your thoughts on who deserves to be the quarterback next year, let’s support the guy we have at the helm right now. What choice do any of us really have? So no, Kyle Allen is Cam Newton….but he’s making a name for himself. Let’s celebrate them both.