4 Panthers that must step up in NFC South title showdown at Bucs

Sam Darnold – Carolina Panthers QB

Like it or not, this is Sam Darnold‘s team for the immediate future. But that hasn’t necessarily been a bad thing so far.

Darnold has not lit up the field, the embattled quarterback has also not broken any passing records. However, it’s what he hasn’t done that has put the Carolina Panthers in a position to make an unlikely playoff run.

Behind what is by far the best offensive line Darnold’s ever had, he is not making the errors that hampered the former No. 3 overall selection so many times in his career. The quarterback hasn’t been on the run, forced to make rash decisions and even tougher throws.

And even when the pressure comes and a rollout is necessary, it has been a more calm and collected signal-caller than we’ve ever seen.

That has always been the secret to Darnold’s success. Keeping the quarterback comfortable enough to make the necessary reads and smart decisions with the football.

Also setting a franchise record in rushing yards doesn’t exactly hurt things.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to tailor their game plan to stop Carolina’s rushing attack, and rightfully so. Darnold will have to step up to bridge that gap and force their division rivals to respect the pass enough to reopen the running lanes.

Without that compliment to the rushing attack, the Panthers won’t have much of a chance on Sunday. That falls on the shoulders of Darnold and how he handles that pressure, when the lights are brightest, will be crucial.