3 key matchups to watch as Panthers face Steelers

Antonio Brown against the secondary

This secondary has been faced with challenges. For the most part they have passed them all, but perhaps their biggest test of the season will be against Antonio Brown. That’s not a slight against the secondary either. Brown like Conner is difficult to stop.

So far this season, the Central Michigan product has 51 catches for 594 yards and nine touchdowns. His best game of the season to this point came on October 14 against the Cincinnati Bengals. In that contest he caught five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. For Brown, that could be considered just another game as this is something he has done for the majority of his career. The Panthers hope to avoid that.

Matchup -wise, James Bradberry will probably get the most looks at Brown. Per statistics from Pro Football Focus, he received an 85 coverage rating against the Buccaneers, his highest to this point in the season. Coverage is something that has not been a strong suit of his for the better part of this year. Instead, he has been a tremendous tackler, accumulating tackle ratings over 70 in all but one game this season.