What keys will determine who comes out on top between the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints in Week 3 at Bank of America Stadium?
After another loss for the Carolina Panthers in wake of a close game, the team sits at 0-2. The 19-16 reverse at the New York Giants went all the way down to the wire and the franchise is in serious need of tallying a win in one of these one-score contests.
The Panthers improved their run defense in Week 2 by containing Saquon Barkley and preventing him from wrecking the game. However, Daniel Jones made plays when he needed to on third down, continuing the Giants’ drives time and time again.
Carolina’s defense has still failed to create a turnover in their first two games. A unit that was one of the league’s best last season is off to a slow start after losing to Jacoby Brissett and Jones, which has piled further pressure on an organization right on the brink.
The New Orleans Saints are 1-1 after losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a very emotional loss where Marshon Lattimore was ejected after an altercation with Mike Evans, which resulted in a one-game suspension for the wide receiver.
The Saints are favored by three points as they visit Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Carolina needs a win badly as the schedule doesn’t get any easier moving forward and it will get very loud in regards to Matt Rhule’s job security if the team continues to lose.
With all that said, here are three major keys that will determine whether the Panthers can pick up their first win of the 2022 season.
Carolina Panthers’ defense must create turnovers
The bad news for the Carolina Panthers defense so far in 2022 is that they have not created a turnover. The good news is that they come up against quarterback Jameis Winston in Week 3.
In Week 2, Winston was responsible for three interceptions and was sacked six times against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also threw the ball 40 times, completing 25, so there should be plenty of opportunities to pick off the former No. 1 overall selection.
On the subject of Winston being sacked so much, it should make Carolina’s eyes light up. Brian Burns will need to have a big game as he recorded his first two sacks last week at the New York Giants.
If Burns can get to Winston early and often, there’s a good chance that he could force a fumble and potentially tip the scales in Carolina’s favor.
Some pressure on the other side of the defensive line would help out tremendously from either Yetur Gross-Matos or Marquis Haynes. Matt Ioannidis recorded his first sack in Week 2 and maybe he can build on that momentum moving forward.
Frankie Luvu was very active in Week 2. Against the Saints, he’ll look to capitalize on a solid performance being the Panthers’ highest rated player on defense according to Pro Football Focus.
Creating the defense’s first turnover of the early season will give the team a much better chance of coming out on top in Week 3.
Carolina Panthers must convert more third downs
During the Matt Rhule era, the Carolina Panthers have struggled on third down and finishing their offensive drives with touchdowns. This is due to play calling, execution by the team, or simply being unprepared in certain situations.
No matter what is to blame for their third-down woes, for Rhule’s sake the team needs to convert these opportunities and start punching it in the end zone rather than settling for field goals.
As mentioned previously, the inability to convert on third down isn’t a new occurrence in 2022. According to ESPN.com, in 2021 the Panthers finished 29th in the NFL in third down conversion rate. So far this season, Carolina is 6-from-23 – a 26 percent success rate, which is far from ideal.
Most recently against the New York Giants, the Panthers were 2-from-12 on third down. This is a huge part of why they fell to a ninth-straight loss.
For the Panthers’ offense to be competitive, they must be more efficient on third down and find a more productive way to sustain drives at a higher rate than they have the last two seasons. If the team converts at a higher rate in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints, the outcome may be in their favor.
It’s a big ask. But something has to improve at some stage, right?
Carolina Panthers can’t beat themselves early
The Carolina Panthers got off to a terrible start in Week 2 against the New York Giants due to the fumble on the opening kickoff return from second-year player Chuba Hubbard. To make things worse, their first offensive drive ended with Robbie Anderson coughing it up for another turnover.
Somehow, those two mistakes only cost the Panthers six points with an opportunity to stay in the game. Against some of the NFL’s better teams, it could have potentially been an uphill battle of 14-0.
The Panthers also had an easy drop on third down from Shi Smith that would have moved the chains and most likely ended the drive with a touchdown. Instead, the possession ended with a field goal from Eddie Pineiro.
Another way that the Panthers can avoid beating themselves is to not overthink things on the offensive end. Get the football to your two best players early and often – Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore.
McCaffrey received more touches in Week 2 than the unacceptable amount he was allocated in Week 1. But that’s still not enough.
He’s the kind of player that can wreck a game if provided enough opportunities as McCaffrey will eventually break out for a long run at least once. This was evident at MetLife Stadium with a 49-yard charge that sparked the offense.
Moore is also not receiving enough touches. He can change a game through the pass or if he takes a handoff or reverse. Ben McAdoo should make it a priority to get him the ball as he’s too explosive to not be given opportunities.
If the Panthers can correct some of these routine mistakes, it could change the entire flow of the game. It would also improve Carolina’s chances of getting into the win column for the first time in more than a year at home.