4 Panthers players who must raise their game vs. 49ers in Week 5
By Noah Bryce
Which Carolina Panthers players must raise their respective contributions against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 at Bank of America Stadium?
Well, that was short-lived. The hype was nice while it lasted for the Carolina Panthers as the team reverted to form in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday en route to yet another frustrating defeat.
It is almost as if the Panthers manufacture ways to lose. Even the most pessimistic of fans could not have predicted the offense would have been lethargic enough for some to call for quarterback Sam Darnold to take the reins once again.
Who exactly the blame for this underperformance lies upon is a subject for another time. However, this is an ever-forward-thinking article no matter how horrendous the previous game turned out.
The one bright spot this season, after some hiccups to begin the year, has been the elite play of Carolina’s defense. Spearheaded by a transcendent performance by second-year cornerback Jaycee Horn and unsung hero Frankie Luvu.
Looking forward, the Panthers find themselves on the brink. What was a relatively easy start to the season is about to give way to a gauntlet of championship-caliber teams.
In the next three weeks, the team hosts the San Francisco 49ers, travels to Los Angeles to play the Rams, and then hosts the Tampa bay Buccaneers. Not exactly a recipe to turn things around.
However, the New York Jets have proven time and again this season that there is a reason the games are played and anything can happen in the wild world that is the NFL. But which Panthers players must step up their contributions to stand any chance of success in Week 5?