4 key Panthers storylies to watch closely in Week 15 at the Bills
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers two-QB system
Although the two-quarterback system has proven not to work either at the college or NFL levels, Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule stated his intent to keep moving forward with this unproductive method in Week 15 at the Buffalo Bills. This is down to his clear lack of confidence in Cam Newton marshaling the offense effectively, but it’s not like P.J. Walker hasn’t been turnover-prone during his time under center.
This is just a microcosm of the current complications the Panthers are experiencing within the most important positional group on the field. A situation that might become even more complex in the not-too-distant future if Rhule decides to give Sam Darnold one final opportunity to prove himself.
The Bills boast a solid defense that is tremendous against the pass. Rhule will no doubt try and adopt his run-first approach initially, but if the game goes as anticipated then Carolina could be playing from behind and something that’s going to alter these plans quickly.
The offensive line cannot pass protect to a consistent level. This has made it extremely difficult for whoever is manning the plate to make a difference.
Whether it’s Darnold, Newton, or Walker. Almost no signal-caller in the league could produce the goods behind such porous protection.
Just how the Panthers approach the quarterback spot at the Bills will be of critical importance. But checking Newton out of the game after every turnover or in certain situations has not proven fruitful since Rhule went in this direction.