The Carolina Panthers have a chance to take advantage of a struggling Philadelphia Eagles team in Week 6. Nick Sirianni's squad has now lost three straight after their absurd defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
Carolina enters the matchup at 2-2 after an impressive win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football in Week 4. They also have had extra time to prepare on their bye week.
But underestimating the Eagles wouldn't be smart, even if they look more vulnerable than ever.
This is an opportunity for Carolina to build on that performance and move above .500. The Eagles also have major questions at running back after losing Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley to injuries.
That leaves Philadelphia facing more uncertainty heading into its matchup with Carolina. The Panthers have a great shot at Lincoln Financial Field if the Eagles remain without their top running backs, particularly after Jacksonville limited their ground game so effectively.
The Panthers also need to be ready for Philadelphia's response after three straight losses.
A team with that much talent is unlikely to accept another poor performance without trying to make adjustments. They are also back on home soil, giving them even more urgency to end their slide.
This is something the Panthers have to match. And they should be raring to go after an extended rest period.
Head coach Dave Canales and his staff may have been enjoying time with family over the weekend. But before then, they were in meetings, getting an early leg-up on their strategy against the Eagles. That could help them sharpen the details that tend to decide close games, particularly against an opponent that has lost three straight by a combined 10 points.
Carolina still has its own injury concerns, especially on defense, so the Eagles' struggles should not be treated as a guarantee of success.
The Panthers need to make Philadelphia work for every scoring opportunity. They must also prevent quarterback Jalen Hurts from turning a manageable game into a late comeback attempt.
Carolina's biggest mistake would be treating the Eagles' record as the whole story. Philadelphia has struggled, and its injury situation could make things even harder. But the Panthers still need to prove they can take advantage. And without late collapses, they would have beaten both the Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams.
And there are no easy games in the NFL.
A win would put Carolina at 3-2 and give the team a chance to build on its victory over Detroit. More importantly, it would show the Panthers can handle a favorable matchup without letting their opponent's problems become their own.
The opportunity is there for Carolina. Now the Panthers have to make sure they do not waste it.
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