4 key Panthers matchups to watch vs. the Broncos in Week 14
By Dean Jones
CBS. Sunday, Dec 13. 4-8. 1 PM ET. 4-8. 45. Panthers -3.5. 87
What are the key Carolina Panthers matchups to watch vs. the Broncos?
The Carolina Panthers have plenty on their plate ahead of their return to competitive action following the bye week. Head coach Matt Rhule will be hoping his rejuvenated roster can kick-off their final quarter of the season with a victory over the Denver Broncos at Bank of America Stadium. But that might be easier said than done thanks to recent events.
No sooner had the Carolina Panthers returned to the set-up after a well-deserved few days away from football, they were forced to put no fewer than eight players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, making it 10 in total. Greg Little did come off quickly, but the fact it reportedly came from a gathering of players in a relaxed setting will no doubt be infuriating for both Rhule and the NFL.
The Broncos have exactly the same record as the Panthers, which tells us plenty about the way they’ve performed this season. Denver was seen as a potential dark horse going into the campaign and although they do have plenty of talent at their disposal, the 2020 season just hasn’t gone according to plan.
Let’s take a look at four key Panthers matchups to watch as they go in search of their fifth win of the season in their penultimate game on home soil.
Matchup No. 1
John Miller vs. DeShawn Williams
The Broncos bost a formidable defensive front that is anchored by DeShawn Williams. He is a dominant nose tackle who is immensely difficult to move off the block. And his ability to generate pressure from the interior is another eye-catching feature of the player’s game that shouldn’t be overlooked.
It’s going to be a tough ask trying to contain Williams and it might take a collective effort rather than just one individual. That being said, the Panthers will be looking for a big performance from right guard John Miller as they look to get their stuttering campaign back on track.
Miller has been a solid if not spectacular performer after arriving in Carolina on a one-year, $4 million deal this offseason. Whether his stay with the Panthers will last beyond 2020 is up for debate and coping with Williams’ supreme threat would certainly enhance his chances.