The Carolina Panthers are back from their bye week and in full swing for this weekend’s matchup against the 2-3 Philadelphia Eagles.
This is a big game for both teams. The Eagles seem to be in a downward spiral, while the Panthers continue trending upward thanks to quarterback Bryce Young’s incredible start to the season.
Carolina has seen some of its best players shine through the first four games, but one player has been quiet. Star defensive lineman Derrick Brown, due for his big game, has a chance to do that against a faulty Eagles offensive line.
Derrick Brown could be key to Carolina Panthers' chances against the Eagles
According to Next Gen Stats, Brown hasn’t put up big numbers in the first four games of the season with 11 tackles, eight run stops, six pressures, and a career-low 5.1 percent pressure rate.
None of this looks pretty on paper, but the tape shows a different story.
Most of the time, Brown has faced double teams and offenses that force themselves to game plan their run concepts away from the No. 7 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the Auburn product continues to create stalemates at the point of attack, which in turn opens the door for others to succeed.
That is why we are seeing players like rookie second-round pick Lee Hunter and undrafted defensive lineman Aaron Hall flash such promise. Brown's presence alone has given these two more one-on-one matchups in the trenches and favorable opportunities to win at the point of contact.
Brown has still shown flashy moments too, though they may not come from the naked during the broadcast.
Derrick Brown's good work isn't showing up on the stat sheet, but that could change soon
He put Cleveland Browns rookie left tackle Spencer Fano through the wringer in Week 3, tossing him around like a rag doll. Brown generated three pressures late in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions, pushing the pocket with pure power.
Yes, the numbers aren’t there for someone you expect to be one of, if not the top, interior defensive linemen in the league. However, Brown has a chance to produce against the Eagles.
According to Next Gen Stats, Philadelphia has allowed the second-most pressures (83) and the highest pressure rate in the NFL (45.9 percent). Losing Cam Jurgens via trade and Lane Johnson to sudden retirement will do that, but even before these losses, the Eagles haven't protected quarterback Jalen Hurts well.
This is Brown’s chance to make the kind of impact fans have wanted this season.
I still believe he is one of, if not the best, players on the Panthers roster. The Eagles haven’t faced a player of Brown’s caliber yet this season — his size, brute strength in the trenches, gap discipline, and anchoring will be a handful for Philadelphia.
Sunday is far from a make-or-break game for Carolina star defensive talent. It is a chance to put up numbers and remind people just how good No. 95 is on any given weekend.
Add us as a preferred source on Google