Curtis Samuel

A Look Ahead: Titans

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Titans
At
Panthers
Game Time: 1:00

Ouch! That one didn’t feel good, did it Panther Nation? The 49ers are NOT who I thought they were. Then again, neither was the Carolina defense. They played so bad in so many different ways. I really thought this would be a defensive game and we’d come out on top, but nothing went right. The most concerning thing was, Carolina had two weeks to prepare. This one hurts. However, we can’t hurt too long. We have the Titans coming to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. So, here’s a look ahead to the Tennessee Titans:

Tennessee Titans

Head Coach

Mike Vrabel

Offensive Coordinator 

Arthur Smith

Defensive Coordinator 

Dean Pees

Key Acquisitions 

WR Adam Humphries

S Kenny Vaccaro

OLB Cameron Wake

QB Ryan Tannehill (via trade)

Key Losses

S Johnathan Cyprien

Key Draft Picks

DL Jeffrey Simmons

WR AJ Brown

S Amani Hooker

The Titans might have a .500 record, but don’t let that fool you. Their defense has played well this year, and Ryan Tannehill became the starter and has played well the last two weeks. The offense hasn’t been great, but they have really improved with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. They also have a good running back in Derrick Henry. If Carolina doesn’t learn how to play the run, Henry could have a field day.

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

Key Losses

DL Kawann Short (IR)

QB Cam Newton (Foot)

OL Greg Little (Concussion Protocol)

WR Chris Hogan (IR)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

No one played well last Sunday. The entire team collapsed, including the coaches. Carolina got outplayed and out coached. The wide receivers ran lazy routes and lacked effort, the defense fell for the misdirections by the offense, Kyle Allen played his worst game as a pro, Norv Turner called predictable plays and Ron Rivera didn’t make enough defensive adjustments. Not taking anything away from San Francisco, because they are a really good team. The Panthers need to use this as motivation to whoop some Titan tail Sunday.

2019 Team Stats

Panthers

Titans
23rd- 335.4 yds/gm
Total Offense
27th- 299.0 yds/gm
25th- 205.9 yds/gm
Pass Offense
28th- 200.8 yds/gm
10th- 129.6 yds/gm
Rush Offense
20th- 98.3 yds/gm
13th- 25.6 ppg
Scoring Offense
26th– 18.5 yds/gm
17th– 350.3 yds/gm
Total Defense
9th– 335.6 yds/gm
5th– 215.1 yds/gm
Pass Defense
16th– 239.1 yds/gm
27th– 135.1 yds/gm
Rush Defense
12th– 96.5 yds/gm
24th– 26.3 ppg
Points Allowed
4th– 16.9 ppg

Things to Watch

Carolina

Kyle Allen gets the start once again, which shouldn’t shock anyone, as Cam Newton continues to rehab his foot injury. Carolina could’ve used Cam’s scrambling ability on Sunday, as the 49ers defense had Allen running for his life. However, Cam Newton wouldn’t have been able to win the game Sunday, because the entire team played bad. Kyle Allen made a lot of bad decisions and made some bad passes, but this loss wasn’t all his fault. Allen has a pretty short memory, so he likely won’t let last week’s loss affect him. Allen will likely utilize the short, quick passes and get the ball out quick. Dennis Daley struggled in pass protection, as did Trai Turner, as they were both playing hurt. Daley and the Panthers offensive line need to give Allen at least 3 seconds to throw the ball on Sunday. Hopefully, Allen studied a lot of film this week, as this Tennessee defense is deceptively good.

Christian McCaffrey was pretty much the only bright spot in the offense Sunday. McCaffrey showed why he is becoming the new face of the franchise. Look for him to, again, be used early and often. Something that Carolina couldn’t do last week is get going on the ground early. McCaffrey played in only 78% of the snaps Sunday, which was his lowest of the season. This Sunday, CMC will probably play 95-100% of the snaps and relied upon heavily. Tennessee has a pretty good defensive line, but McCaffrey should have success.

The Carolina receivers struggled mightily on Sunday. It was almost like they were still on vacation. Moore, Samuel and Wright need to give more effort and run better routes. They need to get separation, which they struggled with Sunday. Former Panther, Steve Smith, called the Carolina receivers out on Sunday. Look for Moore, Samuel and Wright to have a little more dog in them this weekend.

The Carolina defense continues to struggle against the run. Their gap discipline seems to be getting worse each week. The amount of mistakes made by this defense was embarrassing. Allen and the offense didn’t make things better with the turnovers, either. On Allen’s three turnovers, the 49ers were already in field goal range when they took over. Carolina will need to get to Tannehill consistently to throw him off of his game. The Titans offensive line hasn’t played particularly well this year, so the Panthers should have success in getting pressure. Carolina still leads the NFL in sacks per game, at 4.3. Luke and the defense will use last weeks game as motivation, so Tennessee better watch out. Also, look for Carolina to integrate Brian Burns into the lineup more, as he continues to work his way back from a wrist injury.

Tennessee Titans 

In the last two weeks, Ryan Tannehill has looked like the quarterback that Miami wanted him to be. He has 505 yards and 5 touchdowns in two weeks, and the Titans have won both games. He throws receivers open, makes good decisions, gets the ball out quick and makes accurate passes. The Titan’s offensive line is a little banged up, and rookie guard, Nate Davis, has struggled at times. Tennessee could have problems with the Carolina pass rush.

Derrick Henry has been less than stellar this year, but could be in line for a big day against Carolina. If Carolina can’t get more disciplined, Henry could have a hole or two from which to choose, on every run. The Titans could take a page out of the 49ers play book and use a lot of misdirection and screen passes to confuse the Carolina defense. The thing that has worked against Henry all year is, the horrendous play of the Tennessee offensive line.

The Titans don’t have any world beaters (thanks, Bruce Irvin) at receiver, but they are all very quick. Former Buc, Adam Humphries, killed Carolina last year and the Titans could use his skill set to beat them again. Corey Davis has had some success this year, as has Tajae Sharpe. They aren’t on pace for a lot of yards, but they also had a struggling Mariota at quarterback until two weeks ago. The Titans will try to use Carolina’s aggressive defensive scheme against them and use a lot of quick passes and screens. Tennessee also uses a lot of three tight end sets, led by Jonnu Smith, to keep the defense guessing. Smith has solidified himself as a solid target in Delanie Walker’s absence.

Tennessee’s defense is ranked ninth in the league, as they only allow 335.6 yards per game. Carolina’s offense averages the same amount of yards per game, which ranks a measly 23rd in the league. This defense has played well this year, and it seems like they’re getting better each week. Tennessee’s defense has only allowed their opponents to score points in 26.8% of their drives, which is 4th best in the league. The defense is like the 49ers, as they disguise and move players around right before the snap. They’re also multiple with their front looks, use multiple coverage concepts and blitz often. This is a stingy defense, and Carolina will have their work cut out for them.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Protect Allen

• Run the ball early and often

• Pressure Tannehill

• Protect the ball

• Contain Derrick Henry

• Maintain gap discipline on defense

Key Matchups

• McCaffrey VS Titans’ defensive line

• Olsen VS Titan’s linebackers

• Samuel/Moore VS Titan’s secondary

• Carolina’s pass rush VS Tannehill

• Derrick Henry VS Carolina’s defensive line

• James Bradberry VS Corey Davis

• Carolina offensive line VS Tennessee defensive line

Injury Report

Carolina

DE/OLB Mario Addison OUT (Death in family)

OT Greg Little OUT

QB Cam Newton OUT

WR Curtis Samuel QUESTIONABLE (Expected to play)

DE/OLB Christian Miller QUESTIONABLE

Tennessee

DL Jurrell Casey OUT

C Ben Jones OUT

TE Delanie Walker OUT

RT Jack Conklin QUESTIONABLE

Tennessee comes into the game with some injuries to key players. Jurrell Casey is a huge loss on the defensive line. They have potentially two offensive linemen out this week, as well as their star tight end. Carolina comes home pretty healthy as it’s just Cam and Greg Little who are injured. Mario Addison will be out due to his brother’s untimely death. We are all praying for comfort for you and your family, Mario.

Prediction

“It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get back up.” -Vince Lombardi

Allen didn’t perform well when he faced adversity, so the Panthers would like to start fast and maintain their lead. The Tennessee defense is going to be tough to navigate through, but as long as the Carolina offensive line plays well, Allen should play well. In a clean pocket, Allen has completed 71.8% of his passes. When pressured, he has only completed 27.3% of his passes. That said, Allen will brush off the loss and the defense will pressure Tannehill consistently on Sunday. Carolina will sack Tannehill eight times and intercept him once, as Carolina wins the game at home, 30-17. #RevengeGame #4MR #KeepPounding

 

A Look Ahead: 49ers

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Panthers
VS
49ers
Game Time: 4:05

Who else is glad that the bye week is over? That was a brutal week without Panther football. It’s time for Carolina to march into San Francisco to play the undefeated 49ers. Kyle Allen looks to extend his winning streak to 6-0 for his career. Will he be able to withstand the Niners stout defense? Here’s a look ahead to the 49ers:

San Francisco 49ers

Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator

Kyle Shanahan

Defensive Coordinator 

Robert Saleh

Key Acquisitions 

DE Dee Ford (via trade)

LB Kwon Alexander

RB Tevin Coleman

WR Emmanuel Sanders (via trade)

Key Losses

CB Jason Varrett (IR)

WR Pierre Garçon

Key Draft Picks

DE Nick Bosa

WR Deebo Samuel

San Francisco has remained unbeaten through the first seven weeks, although they barely beat Washington last week. Granted, they played in really sloppy conditions. Their defense, led by Dee Ford and rookie, Nick Bosa, has dominated teams, as they only allow an average of 10.7 points per game. This defense will be a test for the Panthers, as this will be the hardest defense they’ve faced all season. Carolina will utilize McCaffrey in both the running game and passing game and try to keep the Niners defense guessing.

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

Key Losses

WR Chris Hogan (IR with designation to return)

DL Kawann Short (IR)

QB Cam Newton (Foot injury)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

2019 Team Stats

Panthers

49ers
20th– 353.0 yds/gm
Total Offense
7th– 387.2 yds/gm
22nd– 223.5 yds/gm
Pass Offense
25th– 214.5 yds/gm
9th– 129.5 yds/gm
Rush Offense
2nd– 172.7 yds/gm
5th– 27.7 yds/gm
Scoring Offense
11th– 26.0 yds/gm
12th– 344.0 yds/gm
Total Defense
2nd– 223.5 yds/gm
7th– 225.0 yds/gm
Pass Defense
1st– 133.5 yds/gm
23rd– 119.0 yds/gm
Rush Defense
8th– 90.0 yds/gm
15th– 22.2 ppg
Points Allowed
2nd– 10.7 ppg

Things to Watch

Carolina Panthers

Ok, Kyle….We see you. This was Allen’s first game with no fumbles and he was looking more comfortable in the pocket. He still has some work to do, but he’s still a young quarterback making the most out of his opportunity. Allen is doing exactly what Carolina was hoping he’d do if Cam got hurt. The 49ers will be a huge test for Allen, who was named the starter on Monday since Cam Newton hasn’t started practicing yet (As Expected). San Francisco has one of the best defenses in the league right now. Make no mistake about it, their defense will be gunning for Allen. Hopefully the offensive line will continue to give him the time he needs to hit his open targets. Norv Turner will likely call a lot of quick passes and three step drops against this defense. He will probably enlist the help of Olsen and Manhertz for blocking as well.

Last week Christian McCaffrey was shut down on the ground, but that didn’t stop him from scoring twice. He will once again be a key part of this offense Sunday, as the 49ers allow an average of 90 yards rushing per game. The 49ers haven’t played a running back of McCaffrey’s caliber yet and it will be interesting to see how they handle him. Especially with this Panthers defense playing as well as they are. If this defensive unit continues its play and gives Allen and McCaffrey good field position, look for McCaffrey to handle the load and be productive. The 49ers seem to play with high pad levels, so McCaffrey should be able to have some success on the ground.

In London, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel and Greg Olsen all had fairly productive games. Allen may have a little more trouble against this stout defense, but these three receivers plus McCaffrey will be his main targets when he throws. It’s likely that Moore will run a lot of shorter routes, since San Francisco will be pressuring Allen. Plus, he can get a lot of yards after the catch. McCaffrey will be getting a lot of work in the passing game as well. Also, look for Ian Thomas to be involved in more snaps this Sunday. Rivera said that the absence of Thomas was due to his injury putting him behind. Rumors have it, that the staff haven’t liked what they’ve seen in his blocking. Coach Rivera started in a press conference that Thomas has improved and has earned more reps.

Carolina’s defense has been playing at a high level for the past 4 games and looks to keep it going against San Francisco. The Carolina defense is second in the league in quarterback hits, with 50 (NE is first with 51), but Carolina has played one less game than the rest of the top six. That’s something that the Panthers need to continue against San Francisco, as Jimmy Garoppolo seems to struggle when being pressured. Garoppolo has thrown 6 interceptions, has been sacked 8 times and fumbled 5 times. In order for Carolina to win this game, the defense needs to cause Jimmy G to make some mistakes and cause some turnovers. The formula Carolina has used in the past four games is to dominate on defense and give Allen great field position.

Carolina also needs to limit San Francisco’s run game, as they are second in the league in rushing yards per game (172.7 per game). Carolina has struggled to stop the run this year, but hopefully they will learn to stop the run on the way to the quarterback. Carolina leads the league in sacks with 28 (in one less game than the top six) and they’re second in takeaways with 15. While both of San Francisco’s offensive tackles will likely be out again this week, the players filling in (Justin Skule and Daniel Brunskill) have done well. However, they haven’t played a defense like Carolina so far. Hopefully, Carolina has another 7 sack and 7 takeaway game and beat the Niners.

San Francisco 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo is finally healthy for the 49ers and has the team undefeated through the first six games. He isn’t carrying the team, but he’s being a game manager. Much like Carolina, Garoppolo’s defense puts him and the offense in position to win. Having a good running game helps, but Garoppolo makes the necessary throws when he needs to. If he wants to take his team to 7-0, he will need to limit his mistakes against this opportunistic Carolina defense. While both offensive tackles have been out for consecutive weeks, the backups have played pretty well in their absence. They will have a test on Sunday, as they haven’t played a defense as dominant as Carolina.

San Francisco has a solid running back trio in Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert. This will be a test for Carolina’s 23rd ranked rush defense. This is a very dynamic backfield that can be utilized in both the running and passing game. The 49ers rank second in rushing and will look to keep that going this Sunday.

The main target in San Francisco is tight end, George Kittle. Kittle leads the team with 376 receiving yards. The receiving room consists of Marquise Goodwin (181 yards), Deebo Samuel (168 yards), Kendrick Bourne (139 yards) and Richie James (108 yards). However, there’s a new guy in town, as the 49ers have traded for Emmanuel Sanders this week. Sanders will give the team a proven target that is sure to enhance the offense, if Garoppolo has time to throw. With any luck, Carolina will put more pressure on Garoppolo than he is used to.

The 49er defense is stout. They have five first rounders on the defensive line and they are playing lights out. This will be a tough test for Kyle Allen and the Panthers’ offensive line. The defense has 20 sacks and 35 quarterback pressures. Look for the defense to blitz at a higher rate to get Allen to make mistakes. The secondary of San Francisco is also one of the best in the league, but their pass rush is one of the main reasons they’ve been successful.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Run McCaffrey early and often (as always). The 49ers rank 8th in rush defense, so he will have his work cut out for him. CMC is a volume runner, which means the more you give it to him, the better he gets.

• Protect Kyle Allen. The line needs to give Allen time to find his target. The San Francisco defensive line will be coming for him.

• Moore and company need to get separation. Continue to mix things up with Samuel in the run game.

• Pressure Garoppolo. He makes mistakes when he’s pressured and doesn’t like to leave the pocket. He rarely extends plays with his legs. Pressuring him will shake his confidence.

• Bradberry and the Panthers defense need to continue their solid play, as the 49ers are stacked with speedy receivers. The (likely) return of Donte Jackson will help with that.

• Defense needs to cause several turnovers to give Allen less field to work with. Playing against a stacked defense could make it hard on Allen and the offense, but good field position will make things easier.

• Protect the ball! If the 49ers defense sacks Allen, he needs to hold onto the ball. He did that last week, so hopefully he continues to get better.

Key Matchups

• Christian McCaffrey VS 49ers Defensive Line

• DJ Moore/Curtis Samuel VS Richard Sherman/Ahkello Witherspoon

• Emmanuel Sanders/Marquise Goodwin VS James Bradberry

• Greg Olsen VS Kwon Alexander

• George Kittle VS Luke Kuechly

• 49ers Running Back Trio VS Carolina Defensive Line

Injury Report

Carolina Panthers

Carolina should get Trai Turner and Donte Jackson back this week and it comes at a good time. Allen will need all the protection he can get in this game. Cam is still out this week, but he has been practicing on the side with trainers, as he continues the rehab process. Greg Little is still in concussion protocol, but is progressing nicely. The team will be bringing him along slowly since this is his second concussion this year. The emergence of sixth round pick, Dennis Daley, has eased the effects of losing the second round tackle.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers will be without their starting right tackle, Mike McGlinchey, and Full Back Kyle Juszczyk. They will likely be without their starting left tackle, Joe Staley, again also. The backup tackles have played well in Staley and McGlinchey’s absence, but Carolina’s defense is unlike any they’ve faced.

Prediction

This will be a tough match against an undefeated team, but in reality, the 49ers haven’t played anyone with a winning record. So, this will be a huge test for them, too. Essentially, these two teams are almost mirrored from each other. Dominating defense, good running game, game manager quarterback and solid offensive line. This will be a defensive battle (obviously) and will likely be a somewhat low scoring game. Carolina is currently averaging 27.7 points per game, but San Francisco is allowing 10.7 points per game. Norv Turner having two weeks to prepare makes a difference, as Carolina wins on the road, 24-17. Led by Christian McCaffrey and a great defensive effort, San Francisco is no longer unbeaten. #KeepPounding

DIVISION RIVALRIES: Falcons

Prime Cuts with Norris

The rivalry between the Panthers and Falcons is one of the biggest in the NFL. The rivalry was dubbed “I-85 Rivalry” due to the teams being four hours apart down Interstate 85. The two teams have been rivals since Carolina’s inaugural year in 1995, as they were both in the NFC West division. In 2002, both teams were placed in the NFC South division, where they still play today.

The Panthers and Falcons have played in 48 regular season games and Atlanta leads the series 30-18. Even though Atlanta has 12 more wins than Carolina, the point totals are a little closer than one might think. In their rivalry, Atlanta has scored 1,028 points and Carolina has scored 943 points. That’s not a huge difference in points when you consider that former Falcons’ quarterback, Michael Vick, used to dominate the Panthers in nearly every meeting. Carolina has swept Atlanta three times in 1997, 2005 and 2013. Atlanta has swept Carolina nine times in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2018.

NFC WEST

The first meeting between the Panthers and Falcons came on September 3, 1995, in Atlanta. In Carolina’s first every regular season game, the Panthers took it into overtime, where the Falcons won by a field goal. The Panthers started fast, as they took a 13-3 lead in the first quarter. Not to be outdone, Atlanta scored ten points in the second quarter to tie it up. Atlanta then scored a touchdown in the third quarter to take the lead. In the fourth quarter, Carolina quarterback, Frank Reich, threw a 44 yard touchdown to Willie Green to tie it up. In overtime, Atlanta’s kicker, Morten Anderson, sealed the victory with a 35 yard field goal. Carolina was led by Frank Reich, who threw for 329 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Willie Green has 7 receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown. Mark Carrier had 5 catches for 96 yards and 0 touchdowns. Atlanta was led by Jeff George, who threw for 290 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception (by Carolina’s safety Brett Maxie). Atlanta’s receiving trio of Terrance Mathis, Eric Metcalf and Bert Emanuel had a combined 270 yards and 2 touchdowns. After losing the first game in the rivalry, Carolina would only win 5 out of the next 13 games against Atlanta while in the NFC West.

In 2001, the Falcons drafted a quarterback named Michael Vick from Virginia Tech with the first overall pick. Vick was considered one of the most dynamic athletes ever drafted, and he gave Carolina headaches from the moment he was drafted, mainly on the ground. Atlanta swept Carolina in Vick’s rookie year, even though he only played one game against Carolina once and only threw two passes.

NFC South 2002-2010

In 2002, the NFL realigned the division after the addition of the Houston Texans, who were an expansion team. The NFC South was born and the Panthers and Falcons remained rivals in that division. The Falcons would win six out of 10 games with Vick at the helm from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, Vick would become the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards. In his six years with the Falcons, Vick had 1,493 yards, 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in ten games against the Panthers. He also had 485 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Not huge stats from a guy who torched Carolina on more than one occasion. He was such a pain for Carolina, that they drafted hybrid linebacker, Thomas Davis, specifically to spy on Vick.

In August of 2007, Vick plead guilty to federal charges of dog fighting and was suspended from the NFL. He went to prison shortly thereafter. After a year of Joey Harrington at quarterback, Atlanta drafted Matt Ryan. In the four years after Vick, Atlanta would win five out of eight games.

Meanwhile, Jake Delhomme was the quarterback for Carolina until 2009. Jake has his struggles towards the end of his career after having Tommy John surgery in 2007. After Vinny Testaverde and Matt Moore played quarterback for the Panthers, they decided to go a different direction at quarterback in 2010. Carolina drafted quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. That season, Carolina only won two games, which gave them the number one pick of the 2011 draft.

Cam Newton Era

2010 was a tough season for Panther Nation, but it awarded them the number one pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Carolina selected their own duel threat quarterback, Cam Newton. Cam brought the excitement back to the Carolinas, and has had a lot of high scoring battles against the Falcons.

Since Cam was drafted, the Panthers are 6-10 against the Falcons. One of those losses came last season with Taylor Heinicke under center. The I-85 Rivalry has had some close games, and some blow outs. Despite the Falcons having 10 wins over Carolina, the Panthers have outscored Atlanta 368-359 since 2011. Also, the Falcons blew a 25 point lead in the Super Bowl.

In 2018, Atlanta placed second in the division with a record of 7-9. They didn’t have a whole lot of salary cap to work with, but here are some notable transactions:

Signed DE Adrian Clayborn

Signed DT Allen Bailey

Drafted G Chris Lindstrom

Drafted OT Kaleb McGary

Carolina upgraded their roster significantly this offseason and they should have a good chance at beating the Falcons. Carolina will look to build on the promising start they had in 2018, where they started 6-2. Marty Hurney transformed the Carolina roster during the offseason, so there was a lot of roster turnover. Carolina’s notable transactions:

Released CB Captain Munnerlyn

Re-signed S Eric Reid

Signed C Matt Paradis

Re-signed OT Daryl Williams

Signed DE/OLB Bruce Irvin

Signed WR Chris Hogan

Re-signed DT Kyle Love

Drafted DE/OLB Brian Burns

Drafted OT Greg Little

Signed WR Aldrick Robinson

Signed CB Javien Elliott

Signed DT Gerald McCoy

Signed S Tre Boston

Hurney was busy this offseason and the Panthers appear to be in win-now mode. Hopefully, it translates into wins on the field in 2019.

What to Expect in 2019

The expectations for the Panthers in the upcoming season, is to split the series with the Falcons. It’s entirely possible that Carolina will sweep Atlanta, given their vastly improved roster. These two teams battle hard whenever they meet, and it is always fun to watch. Here is a comparison of key players for both teams:

PANTHERS
CAR
ATL
FALCONS
Cam
Newton
✓
Matt
Ryan
Christian
McCaffrey
✓
Devonta
Freeman
Curtis
Samuel
✓
Julio
Jones
Greg
Olsen
✓
Austin
Hooper
Defense
✓
Defense

Cam Newton

VS

Drew Brees

In 14 games, Newton threw for 3,395 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2018. It should be noted that that Cam played injured from week nine to week fourteen.

In 16 games, Ryan threw for 4,924 yards, 35 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 2018.

As hard as this is to type, Matt Ryan was really good last year, and has been fairly consistent throughout his career. He has passed for 5,996 yards, 36 touchdowns and 16 interceptions for Atlanta in 22 games against the Carolina. In the last five years, Ryan has the most yards per attempt in the NFL. Newton has 3,241 yards, 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 15 games against Atlanta. Cam also has 721 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns in the same time frame. Unfortunately, Matt Ryan takes this one by a hair. This could change in 2019, as Carolina will have a healthy Cam Newton with a bevy of weapons and improved offensive line. 

Christian McCaffrey

VS

Devonta Freeman

Last season, McCaffrey had 219 carries for 1,098 yards (5.0 AVG per carry) and 7 touchdowns in 16 games. He also had 107 receptions for 867 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Last season, Freeman had 14 carries for 68 yards (4.9 AVG per carry) due to an injury. In week one, he sustained a knee bruise and missed three games. Then, a sports hernia ended his season.

McCaffrey wins this by a mile. Not to say Freeman isn’t a good running back, but he doesn’t have the upside that McCaffrey does. Atlanta hopes that Freeman has a bounce back year, but it won’t be enough to knock CMC out of first place. 

Curtis Samuel

VS

Julio Jones

Last season, Samuel had 39 receptions for 494 touchdowns and 5 touchdowns in 13 games. He missed time due to injury and it took time for him to become more integrated into the offense when he returned.

Last season, Quintorris Lopez (Julio) Jones had 113 receptions for 1,677 yards and 8 touchdowns in 16 games.

Jones has been a model of dominance and consistency throughout his career. Last year was no different, so Jones wins this by a landslide. It’s hard to tell what Samuel will do based on his injury history. Samuel could very well have a dominant season based on what everyone saw in training camp, but it remains to be seen if he will surpass Jones in 2019. 

Greg Olsen

VS

Austin Hooper

Olsen, who has had trouble staying healthy the last two years, only had 27 receptions for 291 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, in 9 games. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and get back to his Pro Bowl level, but there are no guarantees.

Last season, Hooper had 71 receptions, 660 yards and 4 touchdowns in 16 games.

Hooper has done well in Atlanta’s offense, but he isn’t the red zone threat that Olsen is. Olsen wins this based on him being completely healthy (he’s stated publicly that this is the first time he’s been 100% in two years), his blocking and his red zone dominance. Hopefully, Olsen will remain healthy and give Cam that safety net that he’s missed.

Panthers’ Defense

VS

Falcons’ Defense

Last season, Carolina’s defense was in the middle of the league, as they allowed the 15th most yards per game and the 19th most points per game.

Last season, Atlanta’s defense was towards the bottom of the league, as they  were 28th in yards allowed and 8th in most points allowed.

Carolina’s defense should be much improved this year, with the additions of Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin, Brian Burns, Tre Boston and Javien Elliott. Carolina will also have a multi-look defense instead of a base 4-3 like in year’s past, so it will be interesting to see how much of a pass rush will be generated this season. Atlanta upgraded their defensive line, but it likely won’t be enough to make much of a difference. Carolina wins this matchup with ease. 

If Carolina stays relatively healthy, they should at least split the series with Atlanta. Judging by how poorly Atlanta did last year, it’s not impossible for Carolina to sweep Atlanta. It could honestly go either way, but Carolina has the talent to retake their throne atop of the NFC South.

DIVISION RIVALRIES: Saints

Prime Cuts with Norris

The Panthers and Saints have one of the biggest rivalries in all of football. Hate runs deep between the two teams, and the rivalry has been heated from the very start. Both Carolina and New Orleans have been in the same division since Carolina’s inaugural year in 1995. From 1995-2001, the Panthers were in the NFC West division, where New Orleans had been since 1970. In 2002, both teams went to the newly formed NFC South, where the rivalry continued.

The Saints and Panthers have played in 48 regular season games and Carolina leads the series 25-23. This has also been a close series regarding total points scored, as Carolina has scored 1,065 and New Orleans has scored 1,031. The Panthers have swept the Saints six times, in 1996, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2015. The Saints have swept The Panthers five times, in 2000, 2001, 2010, 2011 and 2017. The Saints also beat the Panthers in their only playoff meeting during the 2017-18 season.

NFC WEST

The first meeting between the Panthers and the Saints came on October 22nd, 1995 at Clemson University, where Carolina played their first season. The Panthers came away with the victory that day, due mainly to Carolina’s defense intercepting Jim Everett four times. The Panthers’ defense was led by Brett Maxie with 2 interceptions, Bubba McDowell with 1 interception and Sam Mills with 1 interception. After winning the first game, New Orleans went on to win 8 out of the next 13 games. It should be noted that Panthers’ Hall of Honor member, Wesley Walls, played for the Saints in 1995. These two teams would have a lot of battles throughout their years in the NFC West, but it wouldn’t hold a candle to what had yet to come.

NFC South 2002-2010

In 2002, the NFL realigned the divisions after they added the Houston Texans as an expansion team. The NFC South was born and the Panthers and Saints remained rivals. Carolina would win five out of the next eight games, from 2002-2005. In 2006, the division got a little tougher. After not getting the contract he wanted in San Diego, quarterback Drew Brees signed a six year deal with New Orleans. Even though the future Hall of Fame quarterback has been a thorn in Carolina’s side, from 2006-2010 Carolina still beat New Orleans six out of ten times. Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith and a nasty Panthers’ defense made it nearly impossible for New Orleans to beat Carolina. Additionally, New Orleans didn’t have that great of a defense. In 2010, Carolina had a rookie quarterback named Jimmy Clausen starting. New Orleans swept Carolina that year, and Carolina went 2-14.

Cam Newton Era

In 2011, Cam Newton was drafted first overall for the Carolina Panthers. Since then, there have been many exciting, high scoring games and last second heroics by both teams. One particular last second win came when Cam led the Carolina offense down the field and threw a touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon with 23 seconds left to beat the Saints in 2013. The week 16 game helped Carolina win the division, and when that touchdown was scored, the stadium shook like never before.

Since Cam was drafted, the Panthers are 8-8 against the Saints. One of those wins came last year with quarterback Kyle Allen at the helm. The fact that these two teams are both 8-8 in regular season meetings in the last eight years, shows how hard they play against each other. Carolina has scored a total of 409 points in the Cam era and New Orleans has scored 434 points in the same time.

New Orleans has been consistently good for the last two years, as their records have been 11-5 in 2017 and 13-3 in 2018. However, it’s hard to gauge what they’ll do this year. Drew Brees is older, their defense is still suspect and they didn’t have the salary cap space to make necessary moves. Saints notable transactions:

Released S Kurt Coleman

Signed RB Latavius Murray

Signed TE Jared Cook

Signed DE Wes Horton

New Orleans didn’t have a lot of cap space to work with, but they also went to the playoffs last year with, essentially, this same team.

Barring major injuries, Carolina should have a decent shot against the Saints. Marty Hurney upgraded the Panthers significantly this offseason, and they look to build on the promising start they had in 2018, where they started the season 6-2. Carolina’s notable transactions:

Released CB Captain Munnerlyn

Re-signed S Eric Reid

Signed C Matt Paradis

Re-signed OT Daryl Williams

Signed DE/OLB Bruce Irvin

Signed WR Chris Hogan

Re-signed DT Kyle Love

Drafted DE/OLB Brian Burns

Drafted OT Greg Little

Signed WR Aldrick Robinson

Signed CB Javien Elliott

Signed DT Gerald McCoy

Signed S Tre Boston

That’s a huge pull for Hurney and the Panthers, and it shows that they’re in win-now mode. Hopefully, it translates into wins on the field in 2019.

What to Expect in 2019

The expectations for the Panthers in the upcoming season, is to split the series with the Saints. Both teams have the talent to sweep the other, but chances are, each will win at home. This is a hard fought battle every time these two teams hit the field, and it should be fun (and exhausting) to watch. Here is a comparison of key players for both teams:

CAROLINA

NEW ORLEANS

Cam

Newton

 ✓

Drew

Brees

Christian

McCaffrey

 = =

Alvin

Kamara

Curtis

Samuel

 ✓

Michael

Thomas

Greg

Olsen

 = =

Jared

Cook

Defense

 ✓

Defense

Cam Newton

VS

Drew Brees

In 14 games, Newton threw for 3,395 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2018. It should be noted that Cam played injured from week nine to week fourteen.

In 15 games, Brees threw for 3,992 yards, 32 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 2018.

It’s hard to argue that Brees has had a Hall of Fame career. He has passed for 6,701 yards, 44 touchdowns and 20 interceptions for the Saints in 23 games against Carolina. Newton has 3,238 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games against New Orleans in 15 games. Brees obviously has the edge over Newton in this one. Given Brees’ age and loss of production, as well as Cam being healthy, it could be a lot closer this year. 

Christian McCaffrey 

VS

Alvin Kamara

Last season, Christian McCaffrey had 219 carries for 1,098 yards (5.0 AVG per carry) and 7 touchdowns in 16 games. He also had 107 receptions for 867 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Last season, Alvin Kamara had 194 carries for 883 yards (4.6 AVG per carry) and 14 touchdowns in 15 games. He also had 81 receptions for 709 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Essentially, McCaffrey and Kamara are the same player with similar skill sets. McCaffrey had a better stat line, but he was also the featured back in Carolina, but Kamara shared carries with Mark Ingram. It remains to be seen if Kamara can be consistent with more of the workload. Latavius Murray could also take carries away from him. McCaffrey could possibly take the lead between the two players this season.

Curtis Samuel

VS

Michael Thomas

Last season, Samuel had 39 receptions for 494 touchdowns and 5 touchdowns in 13 games. He missed time due to injury and it took time for him to become more integrated into the offense when he returned.

Last season, Michael Thomas had 125 receptions for 1,405 yards and 9 touchdowns in 16 games.

Thomas wins this matchup based on his consistent performance and the fact that he has more receptions in his first 3 years than any other player in NFL history. Samuel is an unknown element due to his injury history. Samuel was the training camp MVP in the eyes of the coaching staff, but it remains to be seen how it will translate to the games. 

Greg Olsen

VS 

Jared Cook

Olsen, who has had trouble staying healthy the last two years, only had 27 receptions for 291 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, in 9 games. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and get back to his Pro Bowl level, but there are no guarantees.

Last season, Cook has 68 receptions for 896 yards and 6 touchdowns in 16 games with the Raiders.

Olsen and Cook are pretty even. Both players are good pass catchers, both are good blockers and both are good in the red zone. If Olsen were healthy, he’d be ahead of Cook, but the last two years show that Greg might be considered injury prone. The foot injury is tough to recover from. Hopefully Olsen’s foot will be strong and he can return to his Pro Bowl form. 

Panthers’ Defense

VS 

Saints’ Defense

Last season, Carolina’s defense was in the middle of the league, as they allowed the 15th most yards per game and the 19th most points per game.

Last season, New Orlean’s defense was also in the middle of the league, as they allowed the 14th most yards per game and also the 14th most points per game.

Carolina’s defense should be much improved this year, with the additions of Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin, Brian Burns, Tre Boston and Javien Elliott. Carolina will also have a multi-look defense instead of a base 4-3 like in year’s past, so it will be interesting to see how much of a pass rush will be generated this season. New Orleans did little to upgrade their defense. They’ll likely be middle of the pack again, but against Carolina, they will likely struggle. How can any defense account for McCaffrey, Newton, Samuel, Moore and Olsen? 

If Carolina stays healthy, they should at least split the series. There’s a possibility that Carolina could sweep if Brees’ play continues to decline. Mainly, it could happen if things continue to click for Carolina. This could be the year that the Panthers retake their thrones as the Kings of the South.