Game Breakdowns

Seahawks

at

Panthers

1:00

The Falcons just continue to have our number. Interim head coach, Perry Fewell, didn’t really have an answer for Atlanta once the team started turning the ball over. I don’t condone tanking or trying to lose, but it could be happening whether we like it or not. Where’s Cam when we need him? Oh, and where’s our defense when we need them? Here’s a look ahead to the Seahawks:

Seattle Seahawks

Head Coach

Pete Carroll

Offensive Coordinator 

Brian Schottenheimer

Defensive Coordinator

Ken Norton Jr.

Key Acquisitions 

TE Jacob Hollister

DE Jadeveon Clowney (via trade)

WR Jaron Brown

S Quandre Diggs (via trade)

WR Josh Gordon

G Mike Iupati

K Jason Myers

Key Losses

G JR Sweezy

DE Frank Clark (via trade)

DE Barkevious Mingo (via trade)

TE Will Dissly (IR)

C Justin Britt (IR)

Earl Thomas

Key Draft Picks

DE LJ Collier

FS Marquise Blair

WR DJ Metcalf

The Seahawks made a lot of changes to their roster in 2019, and they haven’t missed a beat. Mainly due to the play of Russell Wilson. They had a really solid draft and got some good talent this past offseason.

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach(Interim)

Perry Fewell

Offensive Coordinator

Scott Turner (Norv Turner is Special Assistant to Head Coach)

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)

LT Greg Little (IR)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

At this point, the team is in shambles and in rebuild mode. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a full rebuild, but a reload of talent. This will be helped by the top ten draft pick that they’ll inevitably get next year. Currently, the team is projected as the 12th pick, however, it could be top ten based on the teams around them and their schedule. With the Panthers officially eliminated from the playoffs, it’s time to look ahead to the offseason.

Things to Watch

Carolina

Kyle Allen had another turnover happy day on Sunday. He left a lot of points on the field and missed a lot of open receivers. The protection has been pretty spotty, at best. On Sunday, Allen will face a Seattle pass defense that’s ranked 29th in the league. Allen will need a good game to beat the Seahawks. Look for Allen to hit a lot of short passes to Moore and Thomas to gain some confidence. Even though Allen isn’t particularly good at deep throws, look for Allen to try to get Samuel the ball on go routes. Samuel is almost always open on every route he runs throughout the games.

Christian McCaffrey had 22 touches for 135 total yards and no touchdowns, on Sunday. Carolina abandoned the run early, even when the game was still in reach. This is telling, as it seems like the team is giving CMC less touches now that the playoffs are off the table. Coach Fewell guaranteed another win this year, so I could see the team running McCaffrey early and often this Sunday. Seattle ranks 13th in run defense, so look for McCaffrey to be used a lot in the passing game. Also, look for Curtis Samuel to be used more in he running game as well.

DJ Moore continues his solid play, as he had 81 yards on Sunday. Look for Moore to run a lot of short ins and slant routes, as he is good at getting open on those. Samuel needs to be looked to in the passing game more, as he’s open more times than not. Moore might be leading the team, but Samuel is the most complete receiver that Carolina has. Ian Thomas has improved his blocking and will be used a lot this Sunday with Olsen likely still out with a concussion. Samuel will continue to run the same intermediate/longer routes where he wins, in hopes to get the ball in his hands.

There’s not much that can be said about the Panthers’ defense that fans don’t already know. The loss of Short was huge for the run defense and our pass rush. Hopefully Coach Fewell can motivate these guys to do their jobs. Play your gaps, cover your man, don’t get beat deep……

Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson has played well this year, and was in the running for MVP mid season until Lamar Jackson took off even more. If Carolina can somehow disrupt his rhythm, they might have a chance to win. The Panthers better not let him out of the pocket, as he’s still one of the best improvisers in the game.

Chris Carson is a solid running back who has 1,057 yards and 5 touchdowns on the year. He’s very elusive and can run both inside and outside. Seattle does a good job at blocking for him and they could have a big day if Carolina continues down their path.

Seattle has a really good receiving corps, as they have Tyler Lockett and rookie DJ Metcalf. They also have Josh Gordon, who they signed off waivers a few weeks ago, and he will be implemented in the game plan more today.

The Seahawks defense isn’t as stout as they have been in recent years. They’re 26th in total defense, 29th against the pass and 13th against the run. Seahawks could have trouble stopping the Panthers’ offense on the road. Look for them to pressure Allen to get him off his game.

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.

• Pressure Wilson, but keep him in the pocket. Easier said than done.

• Protect the ball. No turnovers!

• Contain Carson.

• Maintain gap discipline on defense.

• Utilize McCaffrey heavily in the passing game.

• Win the time of possession battle. The offense needs to sustain long SCORING drives to keep the defense fresh and take the pressure off of them.

• 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 Seahawks defensive line

• Samuel/Moore VS Seahawks secondary

• Bradberry VS Lockett

• Carolina’s pass rush VS Wilson

• Carson VS Carolina’s defensive line

• Carolina offensive line VS Seattle’s defensive line

Injury Report

Carolina

Greg Olsen OUT

Mario Addison QUESTIONABLE

Eric Reid QUESTIONABLE

Seattle

Jadeveon Clowney OUT

Mychal Kendricks OUT

Rashaad Penny OUT

Luke Wilson QUESTIONABLE

Ziggy Ansah QUESTIONABLE

Shaquill Griffin QUESTIONABLE

Seattle has a lot of injuries to key positions. The biggest loss is Jadeveon Clowney, who is a key pass rusher. Carolina will still be without Greg Olsen, as he continues to be in the concussion protocol.

Prediction

This one is tough. We never want the Panthers to lose, but with the playoffs out of reach and the team in rebuild mode, it would be kind of nice for them to lose out for draft positioning. Perry Fewell got his first full week of preparation, as did offensive coordinator Scott Turner. As silly as this might sound, I predict Carolina winning this game, 27-24. This just seems like the kind of game Carolina will win.

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!!

 

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.

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!