Norris Thornburg

A Look Ahead: Falcons

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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!

Carolina Coaching Search: Why This Should Be An Attractive Landing Spot

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The search for a new head coach in Carolina begins now. On Tuesday, December 3rd, Ron Rivera was fired from the Carolina Panthers. Rivera had been the head coach since 2011 and had a record of 76-63-1. In 2015, Rivera led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, where they fell to the Denver Broncos.

In the entire existence of the Panthers, they’ve never had back to back seasons over .500, and that’s something that owner David Tepper wants to change. That change helps Rivera, too, as he gets a chance to have a fresh start elsewhere. A fresh start that he deserves. Ron Rivera is one of the nicest people I’ve met, and he is well respected within the NFL. He will be hired by another team the moment the offseason begins.

The Panthers start their coaching search immediately and David Tepper likely already has one or two people in mind. Tepper isn’t going to make any rash decisions in hiring a candidate either. He wants to build a team that can sustain success, so he will be very thorough in his evaluation process.

For the potential head coach candidates, this is a very intriguing job opportunity. There is a lot for a coach to like when they look at the Panthers. Let’s take a look at what some selling points would be for the future head coach of the Panthers:

Owner Who Wants To Win No Matter What


David Tepper will not accept mediocrity, as he has told the media, and he will spare no expense to make sure his team has every advantage needed. Tepper was perplexed at the fact that the team didn’t have an indoor practice facility, so he had a practice bubble built. He’s made upgrades within the stadium that needed to be made as well. Tepper is the type of owner that will do what it takes to have his team in position to win, no matter the cost. That starts with a new head coach.

Coach Can Rebuild the Trenches

It’s no secret that Carolina has issues on both the offensive, and defensive, lines this year. As everyone knows, success starts in the trenches. A new coach can implement his scheme and employ players on the lines that best suit his scheme. Most of the players on the defensive side of the ball are set to become free agents, so a new coach will have an opportunity to rebuild the defense as they see fit. Chances are, this will be an offensive minded coach, so he will have to employ a solid defensive coordinator to oversee the line. The offensive line needs a lot of work, so that’s one of the first thing a new coach will look at. It all starts in the trenches.

Southern Hospitality

Ron Rivera mentioned “southern hospitality” in his final press conference on Wednesday. The Carolina Panthers have some of the best fans in the league and that’s a huge plus for any new coach. We could probably do more to support the team during losing seasons, but overall it’s a great fan base. The vast majority will support and show up for the team when they need us most. There’s also a growing number of super fans, who dress in costumes to support their team. Some, like the photo below, have been here since day one.

Frann, Loretta, Alain “The Mad Cattah”, “Mr. and Mrs. Jumpzone” Sue and Britt, “Panthers’ Thanos” Jorge and Reggie all tailgate prior to a game.

Salary Cap

The Panthers won’t have the most salary cap funds to spend, but they’ll have enough to persuade a coach. Carolina is estimated to have around $43 million in cap space for the upcoming offseason. There are moves that will happen to open up more cap space, both forcefully and organically. Dontari Poe will likely be cut as a cap casualty, which will add around $10 million to the cap.

With the changing of the guard, coupled with his recent concussion and injury history the past three years, it could be time for Greg Olsen to hang it up. Couple that with the recent struggles of McFarland on Monday Night Football, it could be the perfect time for Olsen to hop on the analyst train. It hurts to say, but it may be time. That’ll give Carolina an additional $8 million towards their cap.

Having $61 million in cap space could be a huge selling point for a new head coach. There are other moves that could free up even more money if needed, as well.

Warm Climate

As trivial as this may sound, this impacts the decision of some potential coaches. Even in December, the average temperature is around 55 degrees on game day. That’s a pretty big selling point for an organization. David Tepper has also mentioned eventually building a dome or a retractable roof stadium in the future, so that’s something else to think about for a new coach.

Christian McCaffrey

Who wouldn’t want to coach McCaffrey? The guy is a beast and will be a cornerstone in the offense for years to come. He’s the perfect player to build your team around, both on the field and off. Offensive minded coaches everywhere are salivating at the chance to coach CMC.

DJ Moore

Moore has turned into a solid number one receiver this year. He’s an underrated player that will be a nice piece in a new head coaches offense. DJ is a dangerous weapon with the ball in his hands and can get a lot of yards after the catch, which will entice a new head coach.

Luke Kuechly

While Luke has struggled with adapting to the new defensive scheme, he’s still a cornerstone of the defense and one of the best middle linebackers in the league. If he had a rebuilt, dominant defensive line, he’d no doubt be a force again. Luke is 28 years old and still has 5-7 years of football left, so he’s the perfect player for a new head coach to build his defense around.

Brian Burns

Burns is an amazing talent on the defensive side of the ball. He’s been hindered a bit with injuries, but when he’s on the field, the team goes to another level. He, along with Luke, are pieces that will be very intriguing to a new head coach.

Relatively Early 2020 Draft Pick

With the way things are heading, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Carolina could slide into a top ten draft pick this offseason. Currently they’re slated to pick 14th, but that could change if they can’t win another game or two. 11 teams have a worse record than Carolina, but five of those teams are within a game of the Panthers. A new coach having a top 10 pick is definitely a good selling point.

Cam Newton

Many have written Cam Newton out of Carolina. It absolutely could happen. However, an offensive minded coach might be intrigued by having a mobile, former MVP quarterback at the helm until he finds his guy. What makes Cam so intriguing is, if he is healthy, he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the league. We all saw that in the first half of 2018 before he injured his throwing shoulder. Cam is having surgery in December to repair his foot from a lisfranc injury and could very well be ready to go in June or July of 2020. Which means, he could be available for mini-camp in mid June.

Another intriguing aspect of Cam is, his contract is relatively cheap compared to other starting quarterbacks around the league. He’s the 15th highest paid quarterback in the league, but when he’s healthy, he plays like he’s in the top ten. If Cam is healthy, there isn’t anyone that Carolina could sign with his salary that would be as dynamic as Cam. A new coach will already know that.

Releasing Cam makes little sense, as you’d be getting nothing in return for your franchise quarterback. Trading him makes more sense, but with surgery looming, it’s doubtful that the team will get what they deserve for him. Keeping Cam is really the only option for 2020, and an offensive minded coach will probably be ok with that. Granted, the coach will be looking for Cam’s replacement for the 2021 season, barring an offensive explosion by a healthy Newton. No matter what, the quarterback position has to be addressed immediately into the offseason, so that Allen isn’t fielding snaps next season.

One more aspect of Cam, is the salary they’d save if they did move on from him. If a team does trade for Cam, Carolina would save around $17 million in cap. If the new coach deems Cam as replaceable, that extra $17 million would be a huge chunk of money to entice a coach to come to Carolina. It’s all about options.

This is a strong destination, with many advantages for any potential head coaching candidate. The Panthers have a long way to go before hiring a new coach, but an offensive minded person seems like the way to go in the new NFL. Who will it be? Who will they interview? All of these things will be answered in February or March. However, it’s fun to speculate. Panther Nation, who do you want as your next head coach?

A Look Ahead: Redskins

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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!!

 

A Look Ahead: Saints

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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.

3 Reasons Kyle Allen and 3 Reasons He isn’t

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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.

A Look Ahead: Falcons

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Atlanta Falcons
at
Carolina Panthers
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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!