Kyle Allen

A Look Ahead: Falcons

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Panthers
At
Falcons
1:00

Well, that was a bad loss. So bad, that it cost Ron Rivera his job. We would like to thank Coach Rivera for everything he’s contributed to the team and wish him luck in the future. There’s no doubt that he will be a solid head coach elsewhere. Now, let’s 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 have only won three games this year, but one of those wins came against Carolina. This time around, they’ll have Devonte Freeman back, so they’ll look to run against the Panthers’ porous rush defense.

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)

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

It’s been a long, hard road for Carolina this year. With all the injuries and the defensive scheme changes, it’s been too much to bare. It’s not all bad news, though. Of the eight losses that Carolina has, five of those were lost by one touchdown or less. That’s definitely something to build on for next season. Although, this team will probably look a lot different in 2020-21.

Things To Watch

Carolina

Kyle Allen had his ups and downs on Sunday, but couldn’t lead the team to a win with any last second heroics. Allen hasn’t done well this year when playing outdoors, so playing on turf this Sunday should suit Allen’s strengths. Allen will need to go through his progressions faster and get the ball out quicker against Atlanta, if he wants to win this game. New offensive coordinator, Scott Turner, will no doubt have some new wrinkles up his sleeve, as he auditions for the job on a more permanent basis. Hopefully, the protection up front will give Allen a little more time to find the open receiver.

Christian McCaffrey was held in check on Sunday, but that’s mainly because Carolina abandoned the run when started losing. This was only the third game this season in which McCaffrey was held without a touchdown. Atlanta is in the middle of the pack against the run, as they are ranked 16th and allowing 108.6 yards per game. CMC will be used early and often, and he will be used heavily in the passing game as well. Look for a lot of misdirection plays this weekend. Also, with the lack of protection, look for a few screen passes to McCaffrey.

DJ Moore continues to impress fans, as he grows into the number one receiver role. Both him and Samuel had touchdowns on Sunday, showcasing their ability to get separation. (Wright showed he could open too, on the last play of the game) The Panther receivers will get their chance to make plays on Sunday against the 26th ranked pass defense. Scott Turner is calling plays, so there’s no telling what he has up his sleeve. There will likely be a lot of short routes to get the ball out of Allen’s hand faster. With Greg Olsen out, Ian Thomas will have an increased role in the offense on Sunday.

The Panthers’ defense just continues to get gashed on the ground. This is caused by a few things, but it all comes down to missed assignments and lack of gap discipline. Some of it is the offense’s inability to sustain long drives, because the defense is spending the majority of the game on the field. Three and outs hurt the defense. This week, we don’t know who will calling the defensive plays, as Ron Rivera has been calling them since the middle of last year. Interim Head Coach, Perry Fewell, won a Super Bowl with the Giants as their defensive coordinator, so I’m betting he will call the plays. Hard to tell what kind of game he will call, but I think he will have the guys getting in their gaps and playing better. Brian Burns will likely play a lot more this Sunday, and they’ll need him at his best if they want to pressure Ryan.

Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan has been pretty solid this year, and burned the Panthers in their last meeting. He will likely be getting his tight end, Austin Hooper, back after being out for the past few weeks. Atlanta is second in the league in passing yards per game, at 295.6 yards per game. With weapons like Julio Jones and Austin Hooper, he could have another big game this Sunday. Don’t sleep on the Carolina pass defense, who has shown the ability to lock down passing games at times.

Devonte Freeman was absent the first time around, but he will be a full go on Sunday. Barring any defensive improvements by Carolina, Freeman could have a big day. Carolina has had trouble all year against misdirection running plays, so Atlanta will try to expose that deficiency.

Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Austin Hooper have been really good this year. This trio can be very dangerous when they’re hot. The Atlanta receivers beat Carolina with a lot of deep routes last time, so they’ll look to do that again.

The Falcons defense hasn’t been good the majority of the year, but they’ve gotten better as of late. Their pass rush has woken up and pressured the quarterback a lot lately. That’ll be the key to them winning. If they can pressure Allen, it’ll rattle him and he will make mistakes. Although, Allen has been really good in games played in domes.

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 Ryan. If Carolina gets consistent pressure, it could be a long day for Matty Ice.

• Protect the ball. No turnovers!

• Contain Devonte Freeman.

• Maintain gap discipline on defense.

• Utilize McCaffrey heavily one 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 Falcons defensive line

• Samuel/Moore VS Falcons secondary

• Bradberry VS Jones

• Carolina’s pass rush VS Ryan

• Freeman VS Carolina’s defensive line

• Carolina offensive line VS Atlanta defensive line

Injury Report

Carolina

Greg Little OUT

Greg Olsen OUT

Atlanta

Ty Sambrailo OUT

James Carpenter OUT

Carolina takes a huge hit with Greg Olsen and Greg Little out this weekend. Dennis Daley and Ian Thomas will be their replacements. Atlanta will be without two offensive linemen, but it shouldn’t affect their passing game much.

Prediction

Atlanta whooped Carolina in their last meeting, but this time the game is in a dome. Kyle Allen thrives indoors, as he’s had 9 touchdowns and no interceptions in those games. Carolina will look like a much different team, as they’ll win 30-24 in Atlanta. Half of Panther Nation will cheer and the other half will be upset at losing draft positioning. Christian McCaffrey will go off and have 230 total yards and 2 touchdowns. The Carolina defense will smother Devonte Freeman and only allow 65 yards rushing. This will be a statement win for Perry Fewell, as he’s interviewing for a coaching position. Keep Pounding, Panther fans!

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.

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.

A Look Ahead: Packers

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Carolina Panthers
at
Green Bay Packers
4:25

I predicted a 30-17 win for Carolina, but I was off by 3. I’ll try to be better this time. Carolina got back to their winning ways against Tennessee, and CMC continues his historic pace. There are still things that need to be improved, but overall this was a good team win. Carolina won’t have much time to celebrate, as they have to get ready for Green Bay. Here is a look ahead to the Packers:

Green Bay Packers

Head Coach

Matt LaFleur

Offensive Coordinator 

Nathan Hackett

Defensive Coordinator 

Mike Pettine

Key Acquisitions 

S Adrian Amos

LB Preston Smith

LB Za’darius Smith

Key Losses

DL Mike Daniels

LB Nick Perry

LB Clay Matthews

WR Randall Cobb

Key Draft Picks

DL Rashan Gary

S Darnell Savage Jr.

G/C Elgton Jenkins

The Packers got some quality players in free agency and had a good draft, so this will be a tough opponent. Green Bay sits atop of the NFC North with a record of 7-2 and they just took a beating from the Chargers last Sunday, so they will be gunning for the Panthers.

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

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

OT Dennis Daley

It looked as though Kyle Allen was going to let the 49er game affect him, as he was struggling in the first half. Then he settled down and started making good throws. Dennis Daley is becoming an absolute stud at left tackle, which is great considering Greg Little is still in the concussion protocol. Christian McCaffrey and the Carolina defense continue their dominance.

2019 Team Stats

Panthers

Packers
22nd– 339.8 yds/gm
Total Offense
17th– 352.4 yds/gm
25th- 206.9 yds/gm
Pass Offense
12th– 257.1 yds/gm
6th– 132.9 yds/gm
Rush Offense
22nd– 95.3 yds/gm
10th– 26.1 ppg
Scoring Offense
13th– 25.1 ppg
19th– 360.4 yds/gm
Total Defense
27th– 382.9 yds/gm
9th– 227.0 yds/gm
Pass Defense
21st– 255.2 yds/gm
26th– 133.4 yds/gm
Rush Defense
24th– 127.7 yds/gm
21st– 25.5 ppg
Points Allowed
11th– 21.0 ppg

 

Things to Watch

Carolina

Kyle Allen started off a bit shaky, but he brushed it off and played well. He made some good throws on Sunday and looked more comfortable in the pocket. Green Bay’s defense isn’t nearly as good as Tennessee’s, but it’ll still be a test to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers. The offensive line improved from the 49er game, as Trai Turner and Dennis Daley were healthier this week. Daley has been an absolute steal in the draft and it seems like Carolina finally has depth on the offensive line. The game plan will likely be run heavy, but Allen will have to make some key throws on third down, which he should be able to do as long as he gets protection. Green Bay’s pass rush can be problematic. However, the Packers have trouble in man coverage, so Carolina will look to exploit it.

Christian McCaffrey continued to carry the offense on his back, as he had 166 total yards and 3 touchdowns. It will be run heavy again, as the Green Bay run defense has struggled almost as bad as Carolina’s. The Chargers ran for 159 yards on the Packers last week, so McCaffrey should have another big day. Carolina needs to play ahead, so McCaffrey and company would like to strike early. The best running back in the game should dominate this Green Bay defense that ranks 24th in the league against the run. The Packers are also at the bottom of the league in plays of 40 or more yards allowed, and Carolina leads the league in plays of 50 or more yards gained. So, this is a nice matchup for the Panthers. Don’t worry about CMC in the cold. He’s from Colorado and he’s played a lot of cold weather games. His dad, Ed McCaffrey wouldn’t let him wear sleeves in those games.

The Carolina receivers used Steve Smith’s criticism as motivation and absolutely dominated Sunday. Both Moore and Samuel ran good routes and made jaw dropping catches and runs after catch. Look for the receivers to build on their performance from last Sunday against a Green Bay defense that ranks 21st against the pass. Although, it remains to be seen how much passing will actually go on in the weather conditions of Green Bay. Look for Allen to use Olsen more, as the Packers have had problems covering tight ends the last 3 weeks (TE’s combined for 18 catches, 273 yards and 3 touchdowns).

Carolina added Donte Moncrief to the wide receiver room this week, and while he has had some issues this year with drops, the hope is that reuniting him with former receiver’s coach Jim Hostler will help. Hostler was Moncrief’s coach in Indianapolis when Moncrief had his best year as a pro, as he had 64 catches for 733 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2015. Let’s remember that Ted Ginn Jr. came to Carolina after having 2 catches for 1 yard the previous year for the 49ers and he came in and had three of his best years in the league for the Panthers in a four year period.

The Carolina defense is going to have their hands full with Aaron Jones and Aaron Rodgers. The game will likely be a heavy dose of running and defensive pressure. The Panthers defense is still pretty bad at stopping the run, as they are 26th in the league. On Wednesday, Carolina added Wes Horton, who should help immediately in stopping the run. Brian Burns played the most snaps of any defensive end/linebacker due to Mario Addison not playing, but he was still favoring his injured wrist at times. Addison will play this week, so that will elevate the defensive effort against Green Bay. In order to have a shot against the Packers, Carolina needs to pressure Rodgers early and often. Carolina also needs to contain Aaron Jones, which will be a task. Hopefully, James Bradberry will be good to go on Sunday because they’re going to need him to cover Devante Adams. Look for a lot of disguised blitzes and coverages to try and confuse Rodgers. One thing is for sure, the Packers will be throwing everything they have at Carolina this Sunday, especially after getting beat down by the Chargers last week.

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers had an uncharacteristically bad game last Sunday against the Chargers, as he only threw for 161 yards and 1 touchdown. He’d like to have a bounce back game this week against the Panthers, but it could be a tough test. Rodgers got Devante Adams back last week, so he will be giving the Panthers his best. His offensive tackles are two of the best in the league, although they struggled last week. They’ll look to bounce back on Sunday.

Aaron Jones might be 16th in rushing yards, but he can be a real problem for defenses. He’s a shifty, young running back who can run between the tackles. Jones is also used a lot in the passing game, which could give the Panthers problems. Carolina’s run defense is near the bottom of the league, so Jones could have a really big day. The Packers also have another dynamic running back in Jamaal Williams, who will likely split carries with Jones to give him a break. If Carolina wants to win this game, they’re going to need to stop these two backs. Look for Green Bay to use a lot of misdirection plays, as this seems to be the way to confuse the Panthers.

The Packers got Devante Adams back last week, but he wasn’t at 100%. Adams will be ready to go after last week’s embarrassment. Green Bay has some nice role players behind Adams, but this is probably Rodgers’ worst receiving corps of his career. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a lot of potential, but he is only averaging 2.4 catches per game. If the Packers get the opportunity, look for them to try and beat the Panthers deep. There have been a dozen plays this year where a receiver has gotten behind the Panther secondary, but the throw was off target. Rodgers is rarely off target on those balls, so they will take some shots.

Green Bay’s defense isn’t as good as San Francisco or Tennessee, as they are 26th in the league. However, their pass rush shouldn’t be overlooked. Za’darius Smith and Preston Smith both have over 8 sacks each, so Allen will be pressured on Sunday. The Packers are top five in getting pressure on the quarterback without blitzing. The Packers run a lot of dime and nickel formations, but they have trouble stopping the run, so McCaffrey should do well against them.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Run the ball early and often.

• Pressure Rodgers, but don’t let him out of the pocket.

• Protect the ball.

• Contain Aaron Jones.

• Maintain gap discipline on defense.

• Involve Greg Olsen. Packers have had trouble stopping the tight ends in recent weeks.

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

• Contain the Smiths. While they have a combined 16.5 sacks, the rest of the team only has 5.5 combined. So if Carolina can somehow contain those two players, Allen should have some time in the pocket.

Key Matchups

• McCaffrey VS Packers defensive line

• Olsen VS Packers linebackers

• Samuel/Moore VS Packers secondary

• Carolina’s pass rush VS Rodgers

• Aaron Jones VS Carolina’s defensive line

• Carolina offensive line VS Green Bay’s defensive line

Injury Report

Carolina

Greg Little OUT

Vernon Butler QUESTIONABLE

James Bradberry QUESTIONABLE

Green Bay

Jaire Alexander QUESTIONABLE

Adrian Amos QUESTIONABLE

Both teams come into Sunday relatively healthy. Hopefully James Bradberry can play, as he is needed to try and contain Devante Adams.

Prediction

If Carolina wants to make a playoff run, this is a game they need to win. The back half of the schedule is going to be tough, with Seattle, Green Bay, Indianapolis and the Saints (twice) ahead. All things considered, the Panthers will likely need at least 11 wins to make the playoffs, so this is an important game. It’s also a game that they can win. It will be a hard fought battle, but Carolina will come away victorious, with a score of 28-24. Christian McCaffrey will have 195 total yards and 2 total touchdowns. Greg Olsen will contribute 75 yards and a touchdown as well. The Panthers’ defense will sack Aaron Rodgers, behind a struggling offensive line, 6 times. #KeepPounding

 

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