Panthers looking to spark offense; close out NFC South in the coming weeks

by Crimsion | 8 years ago | 2 Comments

As the playoff race coninues to heat up around the league teams are looking for ways to either put themselves into the conversation or solidify a spot in the post season. For the Carolina Panthers it's all about tightening their grip on the NFC South division and they are left with 4 weeks to do just that.

Carolina's schedule is very NFC South heavy moving forward, they'll go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions and two meetings with the New Orelans Saints. The Panthers will need to keep pace with the boys in N.O. as both host a, 8-4 record following Week 14.

In order to compete for the rights to be crowned NFC South champions the Panthers will need to step up on both sides of the ball, but their offense is what needs the most work. Without star wide-out Kelvin Benjamin until week 17, Carolina will need to continue to look for output from both Ted Ginn Jr and Devin Funchess.

The two wide-outs have combined for 75 catches, 1,168 yards and 8 TDs, but the issue does not lay with the production of these two pass catchers, but more with the signal caller under centre.

In his 6th year as Carolina's franchise cornerstone Cam Newton has been solid on the ground with 62 carries, totalling 130 yards and 7 TDs. He's been the same red-zone threat he was labeled as when he first entered the league, but his numbers through the air have been nothing but average.

Newton has yet to hit the 1;1 mark when it comes to TDs to interceptions, throwing 16 TDs on the season with 19 takeaways, but not only that, Newton has had trouble finding the end-zone, making this past match-up against the Buffalo Bills the 3rd straight game in which he was held without a passing touchdown. 

Next week the Panthers will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers in what could be labeleld as their biggest game of the season outside of their week 11 match-up with the Atlanta Falcons. The now 28-year old quarterback posted a line of 15/23, 179 Yards, 2 INTs last week in Carolina against this Buccaneers defense, so Coach Charles will be looking to take a more explosive approach to a must win game like this.