4 crucial matchups to watch during Panthers vs. Eagles in Week 5

Carolina Panthers QB Sam Darnold vs. Darius Slay

Darius Slay isn’t “that guy” in the NFL anymore after a few down years since leaving the Detroit Lions. However, there is still plenty of tread left on the cornerback’s tires and he has to be chomping at the bit after seeing what Trevon Diggs was able to accomplish in Week 4.

While most of the blame can be put on the situation and especially the offensive line, Sam Darnold also made some critical mistakes with the game still within reasonable reach.

Two interceptions in two drives is just not a way to win games down the stretch. Darnold’s decision-making and accuracy suffered somewhat once the pressures started getting home and the score got out of hand which cannot happen. But let’s not forget just how bad the line was when evaluating his performance.

This sets up a pivotal matchup in Week 4 between Darnold and a player that was once the best in the league and desperately wants to prove they still have something left.

Slay has been respectable, yet vulnerable, this season in coverage, giving up a passer rating of 117.5 and two touchdowns on the year but only a 66.7 percent completion percentage.

Nevertheless, any corner with the kind of Pro Bowl history that he has must be excited about the prospect of proving he can still be a lockdown corner.

For the Carolina Panthers to have success against Slay they have to wait for an opening or not throw his way. Something the team seemed incapable of doing with Diggs.

If the opening isn’t there, don’t throw it, let the receivers work. You can’t win it all from the pocket.

Slay will be playing close and hard all game so there won’t be much open space for Darnold to fit the ball. This means his accuracy will need to be all the better to have any chance of completion.

Darnold needs to take a breath and calm himself after what was a hard day at the office or he could be in for another long day against a more experienced opponent.