After last week's win over the New Orleans Saints, things were beginning to potentially look up for your Carolina Panthers (4-8-1). The odds of winning the putrid NFC South went up dramatically after the inter-divisional drubbing, as the team fired on all cylinders, especially on offense. Then, last Tuesday happened.
I was sitting in my room when my roommate banged on the door telling me Cam Newton had been in a car accident. Like all of you, my brain initially could not process that statement, then it turned to pure dread, thinking our franchise QB would be out for a long period of time... or worse, especially after seeing the photos of the crash. After few hours though, it would be confirmed that Newton suffered relatively minor injuries that would most definitely keep him out of this weekend's game. Enter the man that started against this same Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-11) team in Week 1: Derek Anderson.
Now, I have complete faith in our backup QB. In fact, I have complete faith in both Anderson and (God forbid we need him though) Joe Webb. Anderson performed far better than any of us could have hoped in Week 1, and did well in garbage time games when we were already blown out earlier this season. I have a hard time seeing him really struggle in the friendly confines of Bank of America Stadium against a team that has finally been eliminated from playoff contention, but you never know.
With that, let us look at this weekend's offensive matchup.
Panthers Passing Offense
QB Derek Anderson finds himself in a familiar situation this weekend. With Cam Newton sidelined after his auto accident, Anderson will look to regain the form he had against the Bucs 14 weeks ago. In that Week 1 win at Tampa Bay, Anderson was 24/34 for 230 yards and 2 TD's, including WR Kelvin Benjamin's first NFL score. Very efficient numbers for any starting QB really, much less a backup. Now, throw in the fact the Panthers had their best game offensively last week (yes, I'll eat crow for that) and Anderson seems primed for success with this offense. There is something to keep in mind however.
That Saints defense last week was bad. I don't just mean they had a bad day, I mean they really sucked. Newton and this offense were able to take advantage of that and move the ball at will on a team that had clearly given up by the end of the first quarter. The Buccaneers are almost in the same company defensively. They currently rank 24th in the NFL in pass defense, giving up 249 YPG in the air and a 99.8 QB rating. They have also given up 24 TD's through the air, tied for 6th most in the NFL. Suffice to say, they are not very good at defense, odd considering Bucs HC Lovie Smith's background. Looking at their roster and seeing the few playmakers they have provides some insight as to why.
DT Gerald McCoy is still the Bucs main pass rusher, garnering 8.5 sacks in the 11 games he has played in this season. PFF grades his pass rush at a whopping +35.7, by far the best on the squad. Their second best pass rusher appears to be DE Jacquies Smith who was likely pressed into service thanks to the loss of DE Adrian Clayborne to IR. Smith himself has 6 sacks through 8 games, and a pass rush grade from PFF of +4.9. In the secondary, CB Alterraun Verner is still one to watch. While he may have two fewer INT's than fellow CB Jonathan Banks (who has four), Verner appears to not get beat like a drum as much as Banks has so far this season. Due to Banks' height however, he will likely be the one shadowing Kelvin Benjamin the majority of the afternoon.
As for the Panthers, much of the team is the same as last week. I have to say it though, the much maligned offensive line played extremely well last week. This will be a good chance for T Mike Remmers and G Andrew Norwell to continue to prove they belong as starters. I'm not sold on their abilites yet, but last week was a good start. Let's see if Norwell can help manage McCoy with C Ryan Kalil and fellow G Trai Turner and if Remmers can handle either DE Michael Johnson or the aforementioned Smith. While Anderson is a vet, it is vital the line gives him time to get comfortable being back out on the field for another start.
X-Factor: QB Derek Anderson
You could see this a mile away right? Of course it is Anderson. This game will likely hinge on his ability to manage the game and not turn the ball over. That really is all we need to ask of him for this one. While no team in the NFL is a cake walk, and certainly not a divisional opponent, the Bucs are... well, the Bucs. They are not very good. That being said, neither really are the Panthers. But if they want to buck the trend (get it?) and get on a winning streak and make a play for the wasteland known as the NFC South, Anderson needs to play the same way he did in Week 1 against the same team. Play smart, give him time to throw, and have a decent running game to back him up with. Which brings me to...
Panthers Rushing Offense
Seriously now, who the hell ever saw RB Jonathan Stewart running for 155 yards and 1 TD? Who the hell saw Newton running for 83 yards and one score? Where was this rushing attack at all year? One could say that all we needed to do was start Stewart over DeAngelo Williams. While that may be partially true, there were two other things at play: the stellar play of the OL (for once) and the ineptness of the Saints defense. For instance, on Stewart's personal best 69 yard TD score, Newton pre-snap motioned WR Jerricho Cotchery into the backfield. Now, this was something that had been going on all afternoon, and to my recollection Newton never once pitched the ball to him. On Stewart's score, the Saints defensive back, the only one who could have stopped Stewart for a modest gain, completely bit on Jerricho freakin Cotchery potentially taking the ball. This is what allowed Stewart the beautiful lane to run like Forest Gump to the endzone with. (Hat tip to CanadianPanther for bringing this to my attention)
Again, suffice to say the Saints defense was terrible, and I won't go as far as say the Bucs defense is just as comically bad. They rank 13th in the NFL in rush defense (one spot ahead of us oddly enough), giving up 116 YPG on the ground. That isn't that bad, good for a middle of the pack ranking. Last week, the Bucs held Detroit Lions RB Joique Bell to 83 yards and one score. The run stoppers for the Bucs are their usual suspects, with DT McCoy anchoring the DL and LB Lavonte David shoring up the second level. David is having another good year, with 121 tackles so far, good for 3rd overall in the league. He is like our own Luke Kuechly, in that wherever the ball may be at on the field, you will likely find him very nearby.
This week won't be a cakewalk, but it should still be a decent game for the run offense. If we can get the same type of play out of the OL that we did last week, we will be in good shape. It still looks like Stewart will start, with Williams still sitting out practice with an injured hand. It will also be good to see RB/FB Mike Tolbert get going as well... he has been very quiet so far since his return.
X-Factor: RB Jonathan Stewart
Stewart will need to be on his game, moreso this week than even last week. We need the run game to help buoy Derek Anderson starting this week. Stewart is a tough runner, but he is also a smart runner. That is something that DeAngelo Williams just hasn't done that well for us all year. If the OL opens up lanes for him, Stewart will make the Bucs pay. Like I said, he needs to in order to help steady Anderson's first start in weeks.
Injury Report
Panthers Offense
QB Cam Newton - Back: Out
RB DeAngelo Williams - Hand: Questionable
G Amini Silatolu - Knee: Doubtful
TE Greg Olsen - Knee: Questionable
RB Jonathan Stewart - Hip: Questionable
WR Philly Brown - Shoulder: Probable
Buccaneers Defense
LB Lavonte David - Concussion: Questionable
LB Mason Foster - Achilles: Questionable
DT Gerald McCoy - Knee: Questionable
DT Clinton McDonald - Hamstring: Questionable
S Major Wright - Ribs: Questionable
Last Word
This strange season continues along its odd path. Our QB, who honestly should have been a helluva lot more injured than he was is OK, but not ok enough to play this one. So enter our extremely serious backup Derek Anderson, who is starting against the same team he started against earlier this season. And to top it off, we are only a game and a half out of the division lead, despite having only four wins so far this season. Crazy. It won't be easy, at least I wouldn't say it will be. Granted, this is relatively the same Bucs team that gave up 56 and 48 points earlier this season. However, many of their games since then have been pretty close, showing they still have some fight in them. We will have to be on our game. But with the guys fighting to "Win 1 For Cam", how can they not win this game? We have a lot more on the line right now than the Bucs, and despite our crappy record, we are the better team in this one.