The Carolina Panthers will try to enter the tough part of their schedule 8-2 with a victory over the winless Detroit Lions on Sunday Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers enter the game on a three-game winning streak in the middle of a 4-1 stretch. They're coming off a terrible offensive game that produced many offensive players' career-worst statistical games. As a result, the defense had to win it for the offense, which it was able to do.
The Lions have lost 10 games in a row; dating back to the final week of last season, and 16-of-17 games since Week 10 of last year. Last week, the Jags spanked Detroit, 38-14.
There is every reason to believe that the Panthers' offense will have a field day.
For each poor performance Carolina's attack has turned in this season, it has come roaring back the next week for an explosive game.
In Week Three against the Vikings, the offense scored 10 points. The next week it hung a 24-spot on the Falcons.
In Week Six against the Bucs, the offensive unit only registered three points. It tallied 30 points on the Saints in Week Seven.
But for all the stagnancy that plagued Carolina's offense last week, running back DeAngelo Williams kept going strong. He averaged 7.37 yards per carry and scored a touchdown—a 69-yarder on a second quarter 1st-and-10.
The Panthers are getting healthy at the right time. Starting right tackle Jeff Otah will make his second consecutive start this week after he sat out three straight games with an ankle injury.
RB Jonathan Stewart, who battled a sore heel as he gained 21 yards on seven carries in Oakland last week, appears to be healthy again, too. His heel was likely a key reason for his struggles against the Raiders.
The only offensive player nursing an injury is starting center Ryan Kalil, who has ankle ailment.
The Lions have one defensive playmaker—DT Dewayne Wise, whose six sacks lead the team. Other than White, the most notable name on their defensive depth chart is Leigh Bodden because of that questionable pass interference he was whistled for that allowed the Vikings to win a tight game in Week Six.
Oh, and Chartric Darby, just because his name sounds cool.
Furthermore, six of the Lions' defensive starters are hurt, including every starting defensive lineman. Three more backups are injured.
Linebacker Ernie Sims leads the team in tackles with 65. White not only leads the team in sacks, but also in forced fumbles, with three. But White hasn't participated in practice this week, and he looks as though he won't be able to play.
Plus, the Panthers' offensive line is in the top ten in sacks allowed despite playing with a makeshift line in all halves but one. Last but not least, the Panthers have only given up eight fumbles all year, a feat that has them tied for third in the NFL in that regard.
Detroit's defense is so bad that White's presence—or lack thereof—in the game won't make any noticeable difference.
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about 1 month ago
I love the in depth breakdown man! You raise a good point in that Calvin Johnson, Kevin Smith, and Culpepper are all offensive stars and could put up numbers on us. Like you said, though, it won't be enough. We will be able to double team Johnson for most of the day, leaving Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey to do most of the possession receiving, something our corners will eat up! Their O-line is in shambles, and our D-line has been playing very impressively, leading me to believe that Culpepper will, indeed, see a lot of the BOA grass!! I think Charles Johnson will have a good game, and I'm willing to go ahead and say I'd like to see him start over Brayton...I think Johnson is more explosive and hungry.
Good preview man, hope you're right!!
from about 1 month ago
Glad you liked the article!
Personally I'm more worried about Johnson and Smith than Culpepper. I doubt Culpepper is very mobile having come out of retirement just a couple weeks ago, and if he can't get any time to throw, that leaves Smith to shoulder the offensive load. But I bet that the few throws Culpepper gets off will go to Johnson, and he will be able to make plays on them. And even if Smith is forced to carry the offense, I bet he'll be able to hold his own. You don't score five rushing touchdowns in your first nine or ten games as a pro running behind a terrible offensive line for no reason.
I didn't see anything particularly dysfunctional about their offensive line in terms of injuries, but I did see that their O-line isn't especially good at protecting the quarterback.
Brayton was playing well a few weeks ago, but since then he's disappeared and Johnson has stolen the show with Peppers.
And about the Lions' receivers—McDonald is going to play, but I remember seeing that Furrey was hurt when I was looking at the Lions' depth chart as I researched for this piece. I'm not sure if he's gonna miss the game, but he probably won't be at 100 percent.
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