PANTHERS (1-2) VS. FALCONS (2-1)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, GEORGIA DOME, ATLANTA uTV: FOX, DIRECTV 709
Announcers: Dick Stockton, Chris Spielman, Kristina Pink
About the Panthers: The game can’t come soon enough for coach reigning league MVP QB and a Carolina team that got embarrassed by the Minnesota Vikings. Looking nothing like the team that went 15-1 in the regular season a year ago, the Panthers’ offensive line was overpowered in passing situations, leaving Newton few downfield options and often defenseless in the pocket. That problem likely won’t surface against the pass-rush-challenged Falcons.
About the Falcons: Faced with a short work week after playing at New Orleans on Monday night, Atlanta can expect to see a refocused Carolina team in the Georgia Dome, where the Panthers are 2-6 in their last eight visits. That includes a 20-13 loss last season in Week 16 that ended the Panthers’ 15-game winning streak, arguably the signature win of coach 8-8 rookie season. That victory was not a fluke as Rivera played his starters. A second consecutive win against Carolina would be huge for Atlanta.
Kuechly’s primary job is to contain the run and shadow running backs in the passing game, and few do it better or with as much passion. The Freeman/Coleman tandem can be formidable. Freeman had 152 yards rushing and 55 yards receiving Monday night and Coleman had a combined 89 yards.
After catching 13 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns in Carolina’s first Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin was shut out last Sunday against the Vikings.
two games, he vanished against Minnesota with no catches and one target. Benjamin was flagged for two crucial penalties, one that negated a 56-yard catch-and run for a TD by RB “For (Benjamin) not to have any touches (against Minnesota) is baffling,” Newton said. Look for offensive coordinator and Newton to emphasize getting Benjamin more touches.
The Panthers’
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
record (including the postseason) when opponents have pressured Newton on at least 14 dropbacks in a given game, meaning he’s either throwing under duress or getting sacked. Against Minnesota, he was sacked eight times (resulting in a safety), unofficially hit another 12 times and threw three interceptions.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Jam Cam: Teams that apply relentless pressure on Newton generally have reaped the rewards. For that to happen, the Falcons will have to suddenly discover a pass rush from OLB DE and DE If not, Newton is capable of picking apart secondaries.
2. Back to basics: Sloppy aptly describes the Panthers’ overall play the past two games — seven giveaways, numerous assignment mistakes, 18 penalties and 49 points allowed by what has been a suffocating, big-play defense the past few years. Carolina has been unable to impose its will, which seemed to occur every week last season. The Panthers need to get back to playing Carolina football.
The tandem of WR and QB are capable of taking over a game, but the Falcons are at their best when offensive coordinator
can get other playmakers involved in the offense, most notably TE
WRs and and RBs Freeman and Coleman. It starts up front, and that’s why team officials paid top dollar for free agent C (five years, $47.5 million) during the offseason.
Brian Allee-Walsh