The Carolina Panthers have a big matchup in Week 4.
Not only is it important for the Panthers to get a win after suffering a disappointing Week 3 loss, but it’s also a rare chance to play on Sunday Night Football.
The problem is that the vibes are not great in Carolina right now. The team has to feel bad about losing a winnable game to the Browns, and also, several players are out with injuries. As a result, it feels like Weed 4 could be a big game when it comes to how the rest of the season will go.
The Detroit Lions also won’t be an easy opponent. The Lions enter with a 2-1 record and, as is expected, have a top offense once again. Ahead of this matchup, let’s talk about the biggest questions we have.
Can Panthers Survive Injuries?
The disappointing this is that this is a pretty good team on paper. The problem is, so many important pieces are either out for the year or are still expected to miss several more games.
Chris Brazzell II, Nic Scourton, Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Jonathon Brooks, Ikem Ekwonu, Taylor Moton, Brady Christensen, Tershawn Wharton, and Bam Martin-Scott are just some of the players either out for the year or the foreseeable future at least. It would be hard for any team to withstand so many injuries.
This weekend will tell us if the Panthers have enough fight and depth to stay competitive.
Can Bryce Young Keep His Pace?
Bryce Young so far has at least 280 passing yards in each game. This has been the most productive stretch of Young’s career, and it really seems like he’s taking another step forward like the team needed him to.
For this weekend, Young has another favorable matchup. The Colts are the only team giving up more yards per game than the Lions. If Young can have another 280+ yard game, the Panthers have a good chance to win this game.
The worry is that Young’s first three games were fluky, and he will regress back to his career average. If that happens, there will be plenty more questions to ask.
Which Defense Will We See?
The last time the Panthers went up against an elite offense, it was not pretty. Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears put up 59 points and over 500 total yards in a dominant Week 1 showing.
In Weeks 2 and 3, the Panthers’ defense was much better, but Cooper Rush and Deshaun Watson aren’t exactly the most terrifying quarterback matchups. Jared Goff is a different animal, and this Lions’ offense is another that’s capable of putting up video game numbers.
Were the improvements after Week 1 a result of lesser competition, or is the unit actually not that bad? Sunday night will tell us a lot.
