4 key Carolina Panthers storylines to watch at the Ravens in Week 11
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers plan for Lamar Jackson
Despite being listed as questionable through illness, star quarterback Lamar Jackson will suit up for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. The former Louisville standout has been in red-hot form this season with a record-breaking contract potentially upcoming, so this is a threat the Carolina Panthers must be wary of on an every-down basis in pursuit of a shock victory on the road.
Jackson is the league’s best dual-threat quarterback with some outstanding accomplishments during his young career to date. A level of force that hasn’t been seen around the league since former Panthers icon Cam Newton was at the peak of his powers.
Not only can Jackson beat you with exceptional running ability. But his pocket passing is also progressing encouragingly and something else the Panthers have to counteract somehow.
Carolina is facing a riddle most teams cannot solve. Keeping Jackson contained in the pocket with someone spying at all times is seemingly the best way to limit his influence, but even that might not be enough to prevent the talented signal-caller from having his way.
The Panthers cannot afford any passengers on the defensive side. Jackson can smell weakness a mile away and has no trouble exploiting flaws, so everyone needs to be firing on all cylinders in a cold, unfriendly environment to keep this particular contest close.