What potential problems are the Carolina Panthers over their final four games with the NFC South divisional title well within the team’s grasp?
Confidence is higher than it’s been for years within the Carolina Panthers. An impressive stretch of results under interim head coach Steve Wilks is pulling everyone in the same direction and if this trend continues in the coming weeks, it could see the unlikeliest of NFC South divisional title triumphs become a reality.
The Panthers have four games to win. If they do that, then a playoff spot will be theirs despite things looking bleaker than ever before Matt Rhule was fired.
That sounds good, in theory. But this is still a significant challenge for the Panthers and if recent history’s taught us anything, it’s that things could go wrong in the blink of an eye.
With that being said, here are four potential problems facing Carolina over their final four games in 2022.
Problem No. 1
Carolina Panthers’ big banana skin
One thing the Carolina Panthers cannot do is look too far ahead during their postseason quest. While the two divisional encounters against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints are extremely important, Steve Wilks’ men still have to arrive at this point with a chance and there is a concerning banana skin that could jeopardize the team’s hopes.
Carolina welcomes the Detroit Lions to Bank of America Stadium on Christmas Eve for their home finale. This was a game that fans probably earmarked as one of the more winnable before the campaign, but it’s going to be a stern test if complacency becomes an issue.
If the Panthers are not up for this one, the Lions will make them pay. And depending on what happens in Week 15, Dan Campbell’s squad could also be in the postseason mix to add another layer of fascination.
D.J. Moore’s injury
The Carolina Panthers got a signature win for interim head coach Steve Wilks at the Seattle Seahawks, but it came at a price. In the immediate aftermath of the triumph, concerns were raised for D.J. Moore after the wide receiver suffered a knee complication that was serious enough to warrant further examination.
According to ESPN’s insider Adam Schefter, the former first-round selection is day to day with a knee sprain. Moore’s status for Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers could throw a wrench into Carolina’s plans to win out and get their hands on the NFC South, although it’s not seen as a significant issue by those within the organization.
Hopefully, it’s nothing more than an aggravation and the Maryland product can take the field on Sunday, If not, then the onus is on players such as Laviska Shenault Jr., Shi Smith, and Terrace Marshall Jr. to step up and fill the void.
All three have flashed under Wilks at some stage or another. But asking them to fill the No. 1 wideout role if Moore misses time comes with obvious question marks.
The Panthers can ill afford their primary weapon in the passing game sitting out for even a short period. While the player won’t be giving up hope of taking the field, Carolina should prepare a contingency plan if the worst occurs.
Considering the exemplary game week preparations since Wilks took charge, every eventuality will be covered. Thankfully, Moore was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, so we’ll see how he comes out of that.
Carolina Panthers lack experience
It’s been a long time since the Carolina Panthers played meaningful football in December. Many players on the roster have tasted losing and not much else since joining the team, so the experience factor could be a complication compared to other teams also vying for playoff positions.
Only Shaq Thompson and J.J. Jansen remain from Carolina’s memorable run to the Super Bowl in 2015. The Panthers haven’t sniffed the postseason since 2017, so this situation is new to many in a professional environment.
This is why having Steve Wilks is so important. There isn’t much the wily veteran hasn’t seen throughout his coaching career and it would be wise for the locker room to continue hanging on his every word in pursuit of the promised land.
Those who’ve enjoyed success such as 2021 Super Bowl winner Austin Corbett should also be leaned on heavily for motivation and counsel at a critical stage of the campaign. The margin for error is remarkably slim, so Carolina folding under these increased expectations is simply not an option.
Some players have been waiting their whole professional careers to show out in a playoff environment. However, the promise of some lesser experienced figures folding in big moments cannot be ruled out when push comes to shove.
Wilks is sure to cover everything beforehand. But when it’s all said and done, the players must do the business where it counts.
What if the Carolina Panthers cannot run the ball?
The Carolina Panthers have made no secret of their intentions on offense since Steve Wilks replaced Matt Rhule. Even though opposing teams know they’re going to run the football heavily, stopping it behind a supremely gifted offensive line is a completely different story.
D’Onta Foreman is the workhorse putting up outstanding numbers. The former Texas star is being complimented well by Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear, whose efforts also deserve praise during Carolina’s mini-renaissance.
However, one only has to look at what happened at the Cincinnati Bengals to see what problems can emerge if the Panthers don’t get an opportunity to establish the run. So it’s vital their ever-improving defense lives up to their end of the bargain over the coming weeks.
Even though Carolina is running the football superbly, there will come a time when more is needed from Sam Darnold. The quarterback’s efficiency and line-of-scrimmage command have been encouraging over his first two games as a starter in 2022, which has resulted in zero turnovers during that span.
There is more belief in Darnold right now than at any stage in 2021. But his career trajectory before coming back into the lineup isn’t the best indicator that anything positive can arrive if the game gets put in his hands.