Three studs from win over Patriots

Shaq Thompson

Normally on countdowns like this, defensive players do not get a whole lot of recognition. However, I would be doing a disservice to Thompson if I left him out of this list.

He did not get a sack or interception. What he did do is provide a presence to stifle the Patriots’ running game. He clogged up the running lanes and made it difficult for any Patriot back to find space. Additionally, he was very adept at pushing the offensive line backwards on pass plays. He caused disruption there, showing he can be a truly explosive player.

For the game, he tallied seven tackles (including two for a loss) which was second among all defenders on the evening.

This a player that is going to have to come up big with the suspension of Thomas Davis. He had a strong preseason. Now, he looks to carry that over into the regular season. The Carolina Panthers already have enough defensive weapons to be able to wreak havoc on an offense. Having Thompson contribute a breakout year would be nothing short of awesome.