For teams looking to establish their running game, they will need to figure out a way to eliminate the play of Carolina’s linebackers. The Panthers’ third-ranked scoring offense should be able to exploit those, starting on the ground.
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Obviously defenses will want to keep Cam Newton in the pocket and limit his playmaking abilities as a runner but patience is key, especially for opposing defensive tackles.
When the clock turns to the fourth quarter, though, Newton’s rating jumps to 105.8, his completion percentage rises to 64.5 and his yards per attempt leaps to 8.45, his biggest numbers for any quarter. We all know how that ended. When everyone under the shield no longer shares solidarity on issues that make the National Football League progress is when the beginning of the end will happen. He has also rushed for 427 yards this season and you can give him responsibility for 27 touchdowns already. He also has 12 receptions out of the backfield. Olsen has 53 receptions for 788 yards along with six touchdowns. Jones leads the National Football League with 94 catches for 1,245 yards and he batters the Bucs: a 147.3-yard per game average.
But it has been the defense that has been the catalyst for the team all season.
As the Carolina Panthers continue their march toward a possible flawless season, players have increasingly talked about how the team will have a target on its back each week.
The Panthers’ defense ranks in the top-five in several other categories including yards per game (No. 2) with 312.5, No. 5 in passing yards per game (223.8) and tied-No. He leads the league with 13 1-2 sacks and seems to be everywhere on the field. The Saints haven’t had one such return in almost three years. He has four interceptions, but none bigger than the one that locked up the game against the Saints earlier this season.
Through all of this however, there has been a different headline surrounding the team that has caused some controversy, one that doesn’t have to relate to their record at all. Safety Kurt Coleman has benefitted from QBs being afraid to throw Norman’s way and has picked off 5 passes of his own. With a stout pass defense. Considering the circumstances it’s absolutely unbelievable what the Panthers have been able to accomplish being the only remaining team left without a loss going into Week 13. Finnegan will be part of Carolina’s nickel packages, he has 18 career interceptions in nine seasons. After resting their starters in a Week 17 defeat to the Panthers, New Orleans rolled through the playoffs and beat Indianapolis for the Saints’ only Super Bowl title.
“They’re doing all of the things that great teams do”.
“They’ve done a good job in the turnover ratio….”
“Defensively, they’re taking the ball away”.
“The Patriots suffered their first and possibly last loss of the regular season last weekend”, said Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News. Hopefully, they’ll be proving that in the playoffs when it’s really time put up or shut up. You’re going to see a lot of these guys playing in the Pro Bowl. Love him or hate him, Newton is having an MVP-caliber season.
On Sunday, Alabama’s FOX affiliates will broadcast an NFC South doubleheader, with the Atlanta Falcons-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game at noon before the Panthers-Saints contest.
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And if the Saints can make Newton struggle, they won’t have to worry about any end zone celebrations this time around. After dismantling the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo, the Panthers have a remaining schedule full of division rivals and the New York Giants. The Panthers also added vet Jared Allen to the roster after Charles Johnson was lost for the season.
