Carolina Panthers: Keys to game against the New England Patriots

Consistency at quarterback

Consistent quarterback play for Carolina will be crucial to them succeeding in Thursday’s game. Cam Newton will play a bit in the third game, as he should be able to get some warm-up throws in. However, Kyle Allen and Will Grier will be tasked with finishing the rest.

The two quarterbacks did not play terribly last Friday, they just didn’t play consistently. There were some highs and some lows. Now, they need to be able to show that there can be more highs than lows. I am looking for Allen to have a bigger game than he had last week. If he wants to solidify his spot as the second quarterback on the depth chart, he needs to be precise and accurate with his reads and throws. He can’t afford to second-guess himself while he’s in the pocket. He needs to be confident in his throws and get the ball quickly.

Grier needs to be able to make the most of his time in the pocket and settle down a bit. He talked about that earlier in the week. He felt as though he was rushing things, and getting a bit nervous once defensive pressure came. New England is going to do that to you. They will bring blitzes and pressure from all sides and he will definitely need to adjust to that. This will also be a test for the offensive line, as they will be tasked with trying to contain the New England pass rush.

Either way, it is set to be another big night for the quarterbacks. This time, they have to make sure they make the most of their opportunities.