Which Carolina Panthers players are in do-or-die mode when they take the field against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14?
There are no more excuses for the Carolina Panthers. They are coming off a good period of rest during their bye week and it’s absolutely essential the team bounces back during what appears to be a winnable game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium.
Two demoralizing victories before the bye week was a body blow. But the Panthers still find themselves in playoff contention thanks in no small part to the lack of quality further down the NFC pecking order.
Carolina moved from fourth to second in the NFC South without playing a down. That’s how wild things are getting and all it’ll take is one team going on a mini-run to seal a postseason berth.
Many players and coaches have a lot on the line over the next five games. The Panthers decided to move forward without offensive coordinator Joe Brady and if things don’t improve, many more will be on the chopping block.
With this in mind, here are four Panthers who should be entering Sunday’s game in do-or-die mode.
Panther No. 1
Chase Blackburn – Carolina Panthers ST coach
One could have been forgiven for thinking Chase Blackburn’s tenure as coach could have come to an end during the bye week. Instead, the Panthers and head coach Matt Rhule opted to make Joe Brady the sacrificial lamb and give the special teams coordinator a reprieve.
Just why Blackburn is still around when there are so many mistakes being made on special teams – a crucial phase of play – is unclear at this juncture. He is the one remaining major coach from the previous regime and unless things start trending in the right direction sooner rather than later, it would be a surprise to see him on the staff in 2022.
Brady’s firing means nobody is safe probably outside of Phil Snow. Something that Blackburn will be fully aware of.