The Carolina Panthers offense tries to get back on track after a tough showing in Chicago.
The Carolina Panthers are rolling with Andy Dalton again this weekend despite some incessant questioning from certain reporters. It makes since given that Dalton has had just one rough game, and it was against a good defense on the road. This week will provide a reprieve from that. The Panthers are back in the friendly confines of Bank of America Stadium, and they’re hosting a Falcons defense that’s gotten progressively worse as the season has gone on.
The Falcons have allowed more points than the previous week in each of their five games this season. Their points allowed from Weeks 1 through 5 are 18, 21, 22, 24, 30. They’re 3-2, but that’s more a result of Kirk Cousins and the offense starting to find a groove in recent weeks. It’s a defense that can be scored on, and that’s all we’re talking about here. We’ll worry about the Panthers ability to stop the Falcons in the defensive preview.
It’ll be a tough win, but the offense should at least be able to move the ball and score some points. That’ll provide some entertainment, which is more than can be said for last week or most weeks in the last couple of seasons. Here are some things the Panthers will need to do to ensure some offensive success:
- Feed Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard only got 13 carries last week, but that’s more a product of game situation than any sort of concerted effort by the Panthers coaching staff to stray away from the ground game. They should try to lean on that facet of the offense even more this Sunday. The Falcons just got run over by a Buccaneers offense that’s been notoriously poor at running the ball for a couple of seasons now. If the Panthers can keep the game within reach, they need to pound the rock with Chuba. He’s been one of the most productive backs in the league this season despite all of the negative game scripts, and the Panthers need to utilize that.
- Take what you’re given in the passing game. The Falcons are the only team in the NFL with fewer sacks than the Panthers. They have five sacks in five games, but they still have been relatively good at containing opposing passing attacks despite the lack of consistent pressure up front. Both the Buccaneers and Saints found success with short, efficient passes against this defense. Andy Dalton should be able to replicate the success of Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr.
- Watch out for red sleeves in obvious passing situations. He hasn’t quite hit his stride yet, but Matthew Judon is still a very dangerous pass rusher based on what he did in New England. He and Grady Jarrett are the biggest threats to disrupt the passing game, so the Panthers need to account for them and provide some help with their tight ends, especially with Yosh Nijman starting in place of the injured Taylor Moton on Sunday.