Right now, the Carolina Panthers are exactly where they want to be: 10-3, atop their division, and in control of their own destiny. Every team hopes they can be in the same position at this point in the season, and for the Carolina Panthers the next three games will prove pivotal in their hopes for a championship. At first glance this matchup with Denver may not appear to be all that significant, but it is just the opposite. If the Panthers loose this game, and the Bucs win, they will be back where they started two weeks ago, and with the Bucs claiming two of the first three tiebreakers, a division title would prove very difficult.
One of the major concerns for the Panthers is going to be coming out focused and energized after their emotional victory last Monday over the Bucs. If the Panthers come out flat, they may find themselves to be in an early hole, as the Broncos have shown they can score quickly and often, ranking second in the NFL in total offense. With a secondary that has blown some coverages as of late, giving up numerous big plays to Atlanta, Green Bay, and Tampa, the Panthers will certainly have their hands full with Jay Cutler and the Broncos offense. The one area that must be exploited by the Panthers is the Broncos running game, which ranks 26th in the league against the run.
Keys to the Game
1. Don’t get beat deep- The secondary, which had played so well earlier in the season, is now 14th in the league in giving up plays of 20 yards or more. Be it poor tackling or lack of communication in the secondary, the Panthers have been vulnerable in the passing game. With the Panthers now going up against arguably one of the best receiving corps in the league, it will be paramount that they keep everything in front of them, secede the 5 to 10 yard throws while making sure nobody beats you deep. The one thing that may make their job a little easier is the fact that the Broncos are horribly thin at running back, so the Panthers should be able to leave seven in the box and limit the effectiveness of Jay Cutler and the Broncos passing game.
2. Pound the rock- This is going to be the Panthers key to success from now through the rest of the season. With DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart on fire, there should be no reason for Jake to even attempt to throw the ball. As I said before the Broncos are 26th in the league in run defense, so it makes the most sense to keep everything on the ground.
3. Contain Jay Cutler- Much like Jeff Garcia, Jay Cutler is a master at buying time in the pocket, and is absolutely deadly outside of the tackles. Expect the defense to use the same type of game plan they did Monday against the Bucs. Hopefully the front seven, which have played very well in recent weeks, can get pressure on Jay Cutler. Also look for Peppers to be moving around looking for the best matchup, most likely the one where he will be going up against rookie tackle Ryan Clady.
A Carolina win and a Dallas loss will ensure the Panthers a playoff berth, but by no means a home playoff game. As well as the Panthers have been playing at home, they absolutely must win at least two out of the next three games to lock up a first round bye, and give themselves a pretty decent shot at the NFC title game. Right now the only glaring weakness is the secondary, so if Ken Lucas and Charles Godfrey can get back on track, the Panthers will have a decent shot at beating the Giants next Sunday night. I don’t expect this to be a huge day on the part of the Panthers offense, maybe coming out a little flat, but Carolina should be able to win the game.
Panthers 27, Broncos 23
