Panthers film room: 3 ways Jaycee Horn can limit D.K Metcalf in Week 14

Match fire with fire

When one looks at D.K. Metcalf’s route-running style, it’s explosive and efficient. But his power to overwhelm opposing cornerbacks – especially in press coverage – separates him from most plying their trade across the league.

Nothing can really prepare Jaycee Horn for a 6-foot-4, 235-pound receiver that can also run a 4.33-second 40-yard dash. But the No. 8 overall selection in 2021 comes into the game with confidence after an exceptional campaign to date.

Horn is giving up just 51.2 percent of targets and a 41.3 passer rating when targeted. He also leads the league in first downs allowed and yards conceded in coverage from a minimum of 200 snaps according to Pro Football Focus.

While this is all extremely positive, Metcalf could be the most difficult test of his young career so far. Especially on the road at Lumen Field, which promises to be a hostile atmosphere for the Carolina Panthers at this time of year.

Fighting fire with fire is essential for Horn. Not many cornerbacks have the physical tools to get aggressive with Metcalf at the line of scrimmage, but the athleticism, agility, and physicality the second-year-pro brings to the table could give the wideout a shock he isn’t anticipating.

Again, completely negating this threat is almost impossible. But if Horn can match certain areas that make the receiver so dominant, he’ll have a good chance of another impressive outing against high-caliber opposition.